Pastors, It’s Time To Lament, Fast, And Pray

In devotional by S. L. OzbunLeave a Comment

Pastors, ministers, and elders of the church. It is time to lament, fast and pray. This is what all church leaders should call the congregations to do at this point in history. 

Can you not see trouble is near? Can you not see judgment must come? Have you not seen the world burning around you? How can you be so blind?

“Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Joel 1:13-15 KJV

In the book of Joel, a warning has come to Israel. A Warning that great judgment is coming for they have turned their back on His ways. I believe these same warnings and verses could also be talking about the very end of days. The days which we likely live in right now.

God is calling for the priest to lament and call the people to prayer, fasting, and repentance. God is calling for the trumpets to sound and a warning to go out to all the people.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1 KJV

Unfortunately, we see very little of this happening in churches today. We see great sin; we see the wickedness, and we see the apostasy. Yet, no call goes out, no trumpet is sounded. Repent! Repent!

If the pastors and church leaders won’t send out the call, then the remnant must! Those who hold the testimony of Jesus Christ and obey the commandments of God. We must pray, we must fast, we must warn and we must cry out to God.

Dear Christian, whether you can see it or not, we are on the path of destruction. However, there is still hope to be had. If only we, as God’s people, would humble ourselves. If we would fast, pray and turn from our wicked ways. If we would weep, mourn and allow ourselves to be grieved. Then God might turn from His judgment and instead leave behind a blessing!

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12-14 KJV

S. L. Ozbun on Twitter
S. L. Ozbun
Shawn L. Ozbun is an independent podcaster, author, and commentator on many biblical topics. Shawn is a student of the scriptures, ancient writings, Dead Sea Scrolls, and biblical Hebrew language. Above all, Shawn is passionate about furthering the Kingdom of God, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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