Receive our newsletter to seek God for revival in America.

40 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Repentance:
Meeting the Threat of the Coronavirus

Wed, Mar 18 -  Sun, Apr 26, 2020

It's not too late to join fellow Christians across America in a 40-day initiative of prayer, fasting and repentance. Participants will follow the example of men and women of Scripture who humbled themselves and sought the Lord through fasting. Our country needs the spiritual renewal that only God can bring. May He hear our cry and answer! The potential health and economic impact of the coronavirus is not fully known yet, but could be devastating. We desire that God has mercy.

In times of crises, God desires that His people examine themselves and repent of everything displeasing to Him. We are to repent on behalf of ourselves and American Christianity which is largely self-indulgent and does not seek the Lord in holiness or wholehearted devotion. First-century Christians prayed and read the Scriptures every morning and evening, and fasted twice a week. Meanwhile, American Christians spend little energy seeking God and the church is therefore largely powerless. Most Christians don’t give at least ten percent of their income even though we are the richest country in the history of the world, and we pollute ourselves through movies and our own engagement with sexual immorality. 

Participants will seek God through the Biblical practice of fasting, prayer and repentance. You may choose to fast from all foods for the entire 40 days—drinking only liquids—or you may choose to fast by eating only one or two meals each day. For some, health limitations will require a different type of fast (see fasting resources). However God leads you, we desire to have you be a part, and God will reward you.

Please sign up below to participate. As a participant, you will receive a special devotional by email each morning of the fast offering encouragement as you devote yourself to the Lord in humility and repentance.

May God draw near and bring healing, comfort, and protection to our nation as we seek Him through prayer, fasting and repentance.

Join the Fast

Day 21

20 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” – Zechariah 8:20-23 

Revival theologian Jonathan Edwards identifies Zechariah 8:20-23 as the most descriptive passage on revival in the Bible and centers it in his essay, An Humble Attempt in order to promote prayer for outpourings of the Spirit.  Notice the earnestness and zeal of the inhabitants who themselves take action to draw close to God and who urge others to join with them.  Those seeking revival who fail to deny themselves in order to seek God have little credibility when recruiting others.  In my ministry I’ve come across ministers who hold out examples of fervent prayer, fasting and repentance to inspire others to seek God diligently, yet fail to aspire to the standards themselves!  How can others genuinely believe that seeking God sacrificially makes a difference when the ambassadors for such a lifestyle obviously don’t believe it themselves?

Self-denial is at the heart of the Christian faith, yet the beauty is that we always get more out than what we put it.  The hard-working farmer, the soldier, the athlete all know the value of self-denial and hardwork, and the Christian leader needs to know the same.  By spending much time praying, letting the Spirit bring to mind areas of repentance, fasting and immersing oneself in the Scriptures, Christian leaders gain grace from God to be used by Him for His wonderful purposes.  

The fruit can be seen in the Zechariah passage.  Verse 23 says that ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of the man or woman seeking God wholeheartedly.  The Spirit of God enlivens the hearts of others to make them eager to seek out those going hard after God so that they too may know the living God.  

For all who have denied themselves in this 21-day fast in order to humble themselves, hear God’s voice, and pray fervently, you can be confident that the Lord has heard and that the Lord will reward you.  He will bless you and stir up those around you with a greater spiritual interest to seek His face.  As the Scriptures teach, physical training is of some value, but training in godliness has far greater value because it provides rewards in this life and in the life to come!  

Dear Father, You are glorious, beautiful and wonderful!  May Your Name be glorified in my life and the life of my family, city and nation.  May You receive the glory that rightly belongs to You.  Thank You for Your kindness and mercy.  Amen.

May you be blessed and enriched as a fruit of your labors.

Yours in Christ,
Matt Bennett
Founder and CEO, Christian Union

375 People Fasting

Make an enormous spiritual difference in 2021! Sign up to participate and invite friends and family to join you!

Our times require bold Christian leadership as the church is largely lukewarm and the society increasingly becomes godless. Jesus’ calling to be salt and light is more difficult now than American Christians have known for decades.

We need courage Christian leadership.

Our fasts are meant as an appeal for God to raise up courage Christian leaders. But these are also for all of us to be strong Christian leaders in our own contexts. We will ask God to speak to us about the things He is calling us to do. And by His grace, we will take courage and step forward with fearlessness.

Each person who signs up for our fasts will receive an email devotional each day of the fast. Daily devotions will explore leadership themes in the Bible and give direction to your prayers. May His name be magnified through us in 2023, as we grow strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might!

Details: Each signed-up participant will receive a daily Bible-based devotional by email.

Each participant will decide how to abstain from food and/or drink during these 21 days. The Bible provides different examples of fasting, from eating only one meal per day to forgoing all foods for multiple days in a row. Only rarely and in very exceptional circumstances does someone abstain from both food and drink. Ask God how you should fast, and please consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about fasting. Fasting is primarily a means of humbling our hearts to seek after God. Check out these resources, especially if fasting is new to you: What You’ve Always Wondered about Fasting and Modern Resources on Fasting.

Sign up now to participate and invite friends and family to join you!

How will your life, your loved ones, and our country be different if we all seriously repent and return to God?

Fasting Resources

Check out these resources, especially if fasting is new to you: What You’ve Always Wondered about Fasting and Modern Resources on Fasting.

Sign Up to Start

God's Next Move in America

America’s Christian heritage is among the greatest of all the nations in the world. God’s Kingdom has thrived here through the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, largely due to nationwide moves of God’s Spirit. We need another history-making move of God. By His sovereign grace, God ensures that we play a part in Heaven’s work. He draws near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:8). We must ask, seek, and knock for an outpouring of His Spirit (Luke 11:5-13).

“Whenever God is about to do something truly great,
He first sets His people praying!” Matthew Henry, 1662-1714

Before you go, would you like to spend more time seeking God?

It’s hard to carve out time to sit in God’s presence and learn what He wants to teach us when we are daily bombarded by distraction. That’s why we’ve equipped thousands of Christians like you to seek God and pray for revival to come to our hearts and nation. This free 5-lesson course has 25 daily readings that will rekindle your prayer life.

You’ve demonstrated such a heart for revival, we thought you’d want to know about this opportunity.

Is this course something that interests you?

Get my free course