In preparation for One Weekend, we are inviting our church family to participate in a three-day fast. This can be any three days you choose during the week of October 30-November 5 and any type of fast you are able to do.

Our One Weekend gathering is all about consecration and giving ourselves before the Lord. In preparation for going before our King, we also feel the invitation to fast and pray.

The phrase that has been highlighted to our house in this season is “for such a time as this,” coming from Esther 4:14. In this passage of Scripture, the Jews were facing annihilation because of a decree that had been made. Queen Esther—a young Jewish girl who was chosen as the Queen of Persia—was reminded by her cousin Mordecai that she was given a place of influence with the king for a greater purpose:

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

In response, Esther called a three-day fast in preparation to go before the king, because she recognized the cost of going if he had not called her (Esther 4:11). Her very life hinged on whether she found favor before him.

Similarly, we recognize that our very lives are upheld by the favor of the King’s face. As He is inviting us into a weekend of consecration, we feel the call to fast and pray in preparation. Sometimes our familiarity with church leads to a lack of sensitivity to the Presence of God. We can grow sleepy in our awe and pursuit of the Living One. As Bobby Conner said, “We’re all too familiar with a God we hardly know.”

It’s our desire that as we fast and pray, we would be awakened to see Jesus our King rightly and to fulfill the longings of His heart for such a time as this.