FACEDOWN 40
Devotional Day 1

Written by Lou Engle

Jesus’ forty day fast prepared the way for His messianic shout, “The Kingdom is at hand!” The redemption of the world depended on Jesus’ abandonment to the Father as He fasted in the wilderness. Here was a focused man. Without failure, without faltering, He faced the strong man of the earth and bound him with His, “it is written.” Then from His facedown 40, He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.

This 40-day fast, being trumpeted across the nation, must take on the dimensions of do or die. Spiritual awakening is not an option in America! All hell is bent to squeeze the Church into its mold, and muffle its’ prayers that defy this present darkness.

The ongoing terrorism and blood letting going on in Iraq must be challenged by a mightier power than that which is being fueled by the fasting and prayers of millions of Muslims. The nuclear threats and spiritual devotion of the President and ayatollahs of Iran are the manifestations of the ancient spirit, the Prince of Persia, arising again threatening to destroy Israel and dominate the world.

One man, Daniel, fasting with total focus, no side issues, refusing to take no for an answer, was the deciding factor in the heavenly war between the Arch Angels of Heaven and the Prince of Persia. In like manner, the great prayer movement in the earth today is being called once again to this holy place of influence in the heavens, and a fasting 40 fad will not do it! We must be all out for this one!

Reflection:

Reese Howells and his praying band understood their place of intercession and its role in shaping history and withstood the spiritual powers that raged over Hitler and the Nazi regime. Listen to Howell’s journal as he challenges his holy band:
May 17th, 9:30 am
“You are more responsible for this victory today than those men on the battlefield. You must be dead to everything else, but this fight.”
1 pm
"Because you have committed yourselves, you are responsible. You will never have peace again until the world has peace, but you have a place in the cleft of the Rock,”

Friends, there is no peace in America, and there is no peace in the Middle East. Will God find His Reese Howells’ company again? I say yes and let it be now!

Prayer:

Oh God, Ruler of nations, Lord of history, we set our face to seek you with prayer and fasting. Find in us the spirit of your own Son, the great intercessor, who loved not his life unto death. Call forth thousands now, those who have found their place in the Rock, and out of that place are committed to war in the spirit for a great awakening in our universities, among our children, and in the cultural power centers of our nation. Arise oh God; contend with the spirit of Islam. Restrain the Prince of Persia. Loose Muslims by the thousands into the knowledge of the freedom of Christ Jesus. Protect and cover your people Israel until the day dawns and the Morning Star arises in their hearts. We pray for the sake of your Son, Jesus. Amen.