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A Day of Prayer and Fasting

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 29, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 52.

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A Day of Prayer and Fasting

By Arthur G. Daniells

At the recent General Conference Committee Council held in Washington, our great need of special and immediate help from the Lord was felt so keenly that it was thought best to appoint Jan. 21, 1911, as a day of special prayer and fasting for divine help. The need and the purpose were expressed by the council in the following recommendation:—
We advise the Mission Board to proceed as rapidly in the expansion of its missionary operations as the funds in its treasury will warrant; and, further, considering the great need of efficient laborers, and especially of able ministers of the Word, to enter the cities, we suggest that the General Conference Committee set apart a day for earnest prayer and fasting, to the end that the Lord of the harvest may send forth his Spirit and qualify laborers to meet the urgent demands of the hour, and that he may also so move upon the hearts of the people that sufficient means may be quickly supplied to enable us to greatly enlarge our mission work, both at home and abroad. We suggest that Sabbath, Jan. 21, 1911, be the day thus set apart for prayer and fasting.
From the wording of this recommendation it will be seen that the pressing need expressed is for consecrated, efficient laborers, and an abundance of means to enlarge our home and foreign missionary operations, and to do the soul-winning work in the cities that we are called to do.
The purpose of setting apart a day of prayer and fasting is to lead all our people to study our situation and responsibilities as they are at this time, and to make united, earnest supplication to the Lord for the help we need.
In doing this we are following the course God's people have pursued from most ancient times. These seasons of prayer and fasting were observed by the people in every instance to obtain from God needed help. Sometimes they were facing grave calamities because of their sins. At other times they were threatened with utter destruction by the heathen. At other times they were in great need of special help of various kinds to do the work appointed them by the Lord. Jesus fasted and prayed forty days at the beginning of his ministry, for the wisdom and power he needed for that work. The apostles and early Christian churches prayed and fasted for deliverances and victories.
To-day the people whom God has called to finish his work on earth may well take the time, and make the effort required, to observe, as we should, seasons set apart for special supplication and abstinence from food, that we may obtain the help we so sorely need from God.
More will appear in our papers regarding this; but may I here, at this time, earnestly request all who read this note to begin at once to prepare mind and heart for earnest, effectual prayer when the appointed day comes? If this is done, we shall surely see the salvation of our God. A. G. DANIELLS.