Day 17: Consecrate A Fast And Seek God

The prophet Joel gives us a brief but comprehensive overview of God’s purposes for His people in these last days. Joel opens with a scene of total disaster and desolation. But God then reveals His appointed remedy in Joel 2:12:

“‘Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning...’” (Joel 2:12 NAS)

Here is God’s promised response to the prayer and fasting of His people:

“Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, (…) And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:23–29 NAS)

It is His answer for the satanic, ungodly forces that are coming against His people from so many areas, and to the blight and dearth in the church of God.

Notice the promise in Joel 2:28: ‘It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind...’ After what? After we have met God’s stated conditions. We are to consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly, seek God, and come together with prayer and fasting.

I believe that is a message for us in these days. God is telling us once again He will intervene on a nationwide scale. He will not only show Himself strong on behalf of individuals and families, but on behalf of cities, communities, regions, and whole nations.