There is great rewards and blessings when we observe a season of corporate prayer and fasting as told by the prophet Joel.
Joel 2:15-16 speaks of a corporate fast initiated by God:
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes....."
Joel 2:17 speaks of the elders having to take the lead in the corporate fasting and prayer:
"Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the people, "Where is their God?"
Joel speaks of a time of great distress for the nation of Israel. A time of poverty, great threats and trouble. A time of mourning, travailing and weeping.
At this time there was a call for a corporate fasting and prayer. The cry was a call discerned by the leaders as one coming from God's own heart -
Joel 2:12 - 14
"Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me, with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord, your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness and He relents from doing harm. Who knows if He will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him- A grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord Your God?"
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