PRAYER & FASTING

 Greetings,

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." Jeremiah 6:16

A call to prayer has been set before the SBC. Additionally, a call for fasting on the first Thursday of each month has been issued. In a society always searching for something new, wouldn't it be refreshing to seek something old? The ancient paths of Christianity have largely been forgotten. Prayer and fasting are rare disciplines among the SBC. Praise God for those who still practice them. Powerful testimonies have been shared by those who have rediscovered these old paths, proving they are still right and pleasing to God our Father. He blesses and endues such individuals with power from on high.

Did not our Lord pray and fast? Did He not declare to His church—to you and me—that we are to be devoted to prayer and fasting?

Our two priorities are revival and spiritual awakening in our churches, cities, and land. As we witness God moving on college campuses, I find myself praying the words of the old hymn:

"Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry; while on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by."

We rejoice in seeing a younger generation coming to Christ, but Lord, do not pass Your church by!

"Revive us again; fill each heart with Thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above."

We desperately need a move of God.

A Call to Action

I ask you to consider the following:

  1. As we have set aside the first Thursday of each month for fasting and prayer, I urge you to call your campuses to observe this on April 3. Encourage them to learn and practice the spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer as taught in Scripture.

  2. What should we pray for? Revival and spiritual awakening. Throughout history, great moves of God have expanded His kingdom and His work. As we pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, let us focus on the harvest. Christ said, "Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Pray for laborers to go into the harvest." Let us also remember the sobering words of Jeremiah: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jeremiah 8:20)

May our prayers bring forth a prevailing spirit for His glory and His kingdom. The IMB reports that over 3,000 missionaries are currently serving, with another 1,500 in preparation. Can we not ask the Lord for even more? Can we not pray for 10,000 missionaries and 20,000 more preparing to go? Is He not able to do exceedingly more than we ask or imagine?

"Nothing is too hard for Me," saith the Lord.

Praying for Our Churches and Leaders

Across the SBC, let us pray for pastors and churches, that they may cry out to the Lord, who is willing: "Lord, increase our faith." May we come together in unified prayer for such a time as this, as God moves and breathes upon His people. May His Spirit fall upon us—not in wrath, but in divine presence.

I ask you to set this call before your campuses, staff, and students. I ask you to join in this movement of prayer and fasting as members of the SBC.

As we move forward this year, this first call to prayer and fasting is extended to SBC seminary campuses. In May, our focus will turn to prayer and fasting for the IMB. May we remain steadfast in prayer for a mighty work of God—so that all may declare,

"Look what the Lord has done!"

Until,
Dan Biser
rdbiser@live.com


I write to you with a deep burden for our churches, our nation, and the future of the gospel. Across the SBC, we see signs of spiritual decline, yet we also hear of God moving on college campuses. Now is the time to seek the Lord together.

Throughout Scripture and church history, great moves of God have been birthed through prayer and fasting. Jesus Himself both prayed and fasted, and He called His church—us—to do the same. Yet, in much of today’s church, these disciplines have been neglected. I believe it is time to return to the old paths, where God’s power and presence meet those who seek Him.

A Unified Call to Action

With this in mind, I am calling on SBC seminary leaders to stand together in prayer and fasting on the first Thursday of each month. Specifically, I ask you to:

  1. Personally commit to this time of prayer and fasting.
  2. Encourage faculty and staff to join in this spiritual discipline.
  3. Invite students to participate, teaching them from Scripture about fasting and intercession.
  4. Dedicate April 3 as a special day of fasting and prayer across your seminary, focusing on revival and spiritual awakening.
  5. Emphasize the urgency of the harvest, praying that God will raise up laborers, as Jesus commanded: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Luke 10:2).

The IMB currently has 3,000 missionaries on the field and 1,500 preparing to go. But can we not ask God for more? Can we not pray for 10,000 missionaries and 20,000 in the pipeline? Is our God not able? He Himself has declared, “Nothing is too hard for Me” (Jeremiah 32:27).

A Plea for Unified Prayer

Will you join us in this urgent call? Will you lead your seminary in crying out for revival? I humbly ask you to set this challenge before your faculty, staff, and students. The need is great, but our God is greater.

As we move forward, May will be dedicated to prayer and fasting for the IMB and the global mission effort. I pray that through these united efforts, we will one day look back and say,

"Look what the Lord has done!"

I would love to discuss this with you further and hear your thoughts. Please let me know how we can partner in this effort.

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