Mensa Otabil - Proclaim a Fast (10/27/2025)
Today is the beginning of a spiritual journey. We start our 40 days of power, and from today, we’re going to start praying, fasting, and seeking the face of the Lord. The God of heaven will bless us, and He will hear us. I just want to encourage each one of us to be part of this spiritual exercise and journey; it’s a life-changing experience. So, we start with a proclamation of this fast: Second Chronicles, chapter 20, verses 3 and 4.
«And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord, and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.»
The proclamation of a fast is an announcement that calls people together to act in a spiritual manner collectively. So, today I proclaim the beginning of 40 days of power. As we start this spiritual journey, may God help each one of us.
The story is about Jehoshaphat, who is the king of Judah. Jehoshaphat is in trouble because he has heard news that the enemy is coming against him, and the enemy coming against him is stronger than he feels able or capable to handle. So, he sets himself to fast.
When we fast, we turn away from food and our necessary source of physical sustenance so that we can allow the word of God and the Spirit of God to sustain us. It doesn’t mean that for 40 days you won' t eat anything, but you shouldn’t make food your priority. If you look at the passage, it talks about Jehoshaphat’s response. The first thing the passage says is that Jehoshaphat feared.
You know, many times fear is seen as something negative, but sometimes God uses fear to alert us. He uses fear to heighten our senses. Something happens, and it instills fear in you. What do you do when you are afraid? It’s what you do with your fear that is most important. The fear may be a negative thing, but it’s a negative thing that can drive you to a positive outcome.
So I don’t know what you are afraid of or what news you have heard, or what you are dealing with. Maybe something is making your heart afraid, and that is a good thing, because when Jehoshaphat feared, the passage says he set himself to seek the Lord, and that’s a good thing.
You know, when you’re afraid, you have to do something with your fear. You can fear and go hide in a cave, you can fear and start criticizing everybody, or you can allow fear to drive you for the rest of your life. But you can also fear and turn to God. And that is what a fast is supposed to do. When our heart is fearful, when we’re afraid, we turn to the Lord.
So, in the midst of your uncertainty, be like Jehoshaphat. In these 40 days, we’re going to set our hearts to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed that fast throughout all of Judah. He told everyone, «Listen, come on board. This is not just about me asking; it’s about all of us as a nation. We are in trouble.»
I hope that you will all join us. You may not be a member of ICGC, but this is a fast that can help each one of us draw close to God, seek His face, and turn around our situation. The Bible says they all gathered from everywhere to seek help from the Lord.
In these 40 days, as we seek the face of the Lord, we’re gathering on many continents-online, in person, on television, and through social media-to seek the face of the Lord and allow God to help us. And the Lord will help us.
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, thank you for this season of consecration. Help me to deepen my relationship with you. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»
Well, this is day number one. We’re going to continue on this journey for 40 days. I’ll see you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.