“. . . nothing will be impossible for you”. – Matthew 17:20
July 4th, 2026, marked the 250th anniversary of this nation’s Declaration of Independence. September 11th this year marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the Islamic terror attack on this nation. Our initial response as a nation was to go to war in the Middle East. But we have forgotten to go to war domestically. I am not speaking of a physical military war on the home front. I am speaking of a spiritual war because truly, this nation’s greatest threat is not from foreign military or even terrorist enemies, it is from spiritual principalities, powers, and “rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
In the gospel at one point we are given a glimpse of Jesus in His glorified state. This occurred at His Transfiguration (Matthew 17). Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to a mountaintop where Moses and Elijah met with Him to discuss the Triune God’s plans. While atop the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus’ disciples encountered a demonically possessed boy. Try as they did, they could not exorcise the boy of the demon. It wasn’t until Jesus came down from the mount that the boy was delivered by Him. When the disciples asked why they could not deliver the boy, Jesus’ response was:
Matthew 17:20–21 – 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
These words of Jesus are instructive to us. First, we are unable to do what God calls us to do because of unbelief. God uses us by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Second, Jesus said if we have faith as a mustard seed we will be able to move mountains and “nothing will be impossible for you.” A mustard seed is the symbol Jesus chose to describe the faith needed to accomplish the will of God. The faith of a mustard seed is small, but while it starts out small, it grows into a great tree. Our faith may begin small, but it can and hopefully will grow into something great so that nothing will be impossible for us to do that God calls us to do. Third, Jesus directly references “prayer and fasting” as integral to the faith needed to accomplish God’s tasks, even exorcising demons.
Our nation is possessed by “rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This hoard is seen in political deceit and corruption, the general confusion and aimlessness of the people in our land, (e.g., gender confusion, breakdown in the family, substance abuses, debaucheries, violence, insurrection), and the invasion of Islam through the abuse of immigration and manipulation of our own laws and Constitution against us. In too many places like the boy at the foot of the Mount of Transfiguration we are helplessly paralyzed and thrown into the fire and water (Matthew 17:14-15).
While our citizenship is first and foremost in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21), the God ordained Biblical principle of living for God’s people is to “seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace” (Jeremiah 29:7). In an effort to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and be obedient and true to God, we should answer this call to pray and fast and do so, for our nation.
Why pray and fast? We should pray and fast because Jesus prayed and fasted in preparation for ministry (Matthew 4). Moses prayed and fasted (Exodus 34:28), as did King David (2 Samuel 12:16-23), Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 9:3; 10:2-3), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4), Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36-37), the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:9-19), and the church at Antioch prayed and fasted (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23). Prayer and fasting are the will of God for us and is connected to many great accomplishments performed by God through His people. Prayer and fasting are something we can all do in one way or the other. Prayer and fasting are a way to deny our flesh and focus on God. Prayer and fasting helps us to keep focused on God and shut out the distractions of this world.
Times of prayer and fasting are seen throughout the development and at critical times in our nation’s history. The Founders prayed and fasted during the Revolutionary War and at the Continental Congress (1775-1783). They called for a time of “public humiliating, fasting, and prayer.” George Washington called for national days of fasting in 1789 and 1795. John Adams called for prayer and fasting in 1798 and 1799 to fend off war with France. James Madison called for prayer and fasting during the War of 1812. Abraham Lincoln called several times for prayer and fasting during the Civil War (1861-1865). Woodrow Wilson called for prayer and fasting for the nation during World War I and Franklin D. Roosevelt called for prayer and fasting during WWII and especially for the D-Day Invasion June 6th, 1944. There have been other calls for national days of prayer and fasting since then. Our nation has always prayed and fasted in times of internal conflict as well as times when we were embroiled in foreign wars.
In the 18th century, John Wesley, a pivotal figure used by God to save and bring revival to England during a time of great depravity and turmoil inside and outside of the church, emphasized prayer and fasting for his ministers and the people he ministered to. Wesley fasted and prayed until three o’clock on Wednesdays and Fridays. Prayer and fasting were used to revive England, and it can be integral to bring revival to our nation too.
Therefore, I am prayerfully suggesting the church and God’s people prayerfully consider doing the following:
- Beginning Friday September 12th let’s agree to spend Fridays and Wednesdays weekly as times of prayer and fasting for our nation. Let’s pray and fast on these days continuing up to the midterm elections. You may choose to fast and pray beyond that point. You may choose to make prayer and fasting a regular part of your spiritual life. You may fast and pray on other days – follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. But let’s seek the Lord on behalf of our nation.
- Use your time of prayer and fasting to not only fast, but to pray and get alone with the Lord. You may also choose to gather together in prayer with others as the Lord leads. Invite your church, other churches, other Christians to pray.
- Seek the LORD for faith to do the impossible. Jesus said if we have faith as a mustard seed nothing would be impossible for us. So don’t be discouraged about our nation. Defeat discouragement and the demonic hosts by trusting Jesus to be true to His word. Pray for His will to be done. We don’t know if a revival is according to God’s will for our nation. But we don’t know if it isn’t His will to revive us either. Let’s hope in in the loving longsuffering merciful gracious nature of our Great God Almighty.
- Suggested prayer points:
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- Pray for a spiritual revival of our nation. Pray for your own personal revival. Pray for repentance and that the gospel would go forth effectively and be unhindered throughout our land.
- Pray for the upcoming midterm elections that conservative god-fearing candidates (or at least the lesser of two evils) will be elected to office throughout our land. Pray God’s people would vote!
- Pray for the defeat of Islam and its plans in or land. Pray for the salvation of those caught up in this false religion.
- Pray for the defeat of socialism/communism, and for the salvation of those caught up in this political deception.
- Pray for our president and his cabinet, for elected officials nationally and locally.
- Pray for our military and law enforcement.
- Pray God would protect and heal our land.
- Pray God would make us what we need to be, to do what He calls us to do, for his glory, until Jesus returns.
Jesus frequently quoted the book of Deuteronomy. It is a book about living for God, the purpose of family, and guidelines for a nation pleasing to God. Our nation’s Founding Fathers also relied heavily on this book as a pattern followed when constructing documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Toward the end of this book Moses is inspired to write a song. That song begins:
Deuteronomy 32:1–4 (NKJV) – “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. 3 For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
Let’s make this passage our rallying cry. Seek the Lord for wisdom, strength, direction, mercy, justice, grace, revival. Pray for one more Great Awakening. Pray for faith of a mustard seed and let’s see what the Lord will do. God bless you all. In Jesus’ name. Amen!