By Leslie Steddenbenz

Hundreds of believers in Maine fasted and collectively prayed on April 10, 2008, for righteousness to be restored in our nation.

Hundreds of believers in Maine fasted and collectively prayed on April 10, 2008, for righteousness to be restored in our nation. Pastor Bob Emrich, Director of the Maine Jeremiah Project, organized the Day of Fasting in hopes of restoring the centuries-old tradition in Maine. According to Pastor Emrich, “Nearly 100 churches throughout the State participated in some measure as well as several churches in other states. Concerned Women for America of Maine helped spread the word and encouraged prayer partners to participate.”

Concerned Women for America’s (CWA) Area Director of Maine (South), Penny Morrell, explains, “It was for anyone and everyone across Maine who wanted to participate. The idea was to set aside a block of time we would normally devote to an activity such as eating or watching television and, instead, spend that time with the Lord through prayer and the studying of His Word. We were interceding for our localities, counties, state, and nation that righteousness would prevail, as well as for Christians and the unsaved.”

Charla Bansley, State Director for CWA of Maine, adds, “The battle for the soul of Maine is a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.’ Our hope for a renewed culture in Maine is built solely on a foundation of prayer. We cannot win the battle with our own resources. According to II Chronicles 7:14, God will intervene only if we are faithful to seek His face.”

The concept of setting aside a day for collective fasting and prayer is not a new one for the citizens of Maine. According to the Jeremiah Project’s website, the practice was widely used in the early days of New England’s settlement. In their resource, “Remembering the Call: Fasting and Prayer in Maine,” they state, “The purpose was to evaluate the heart and soul of the culture. And evaluation often revealed the need for individual and collective repentance when culture was found to be wandering from the God who gave this nation life.”

Participation in the tradition eventually waned in the late 1800s, but the Maine Jeremiah Project is calling for a revival of prayer and fasting days. “It is time for the Christians and churches of our state to repent and put the altars of prayer back in our lives and in the house of the Lord,” says Pastor Emrich. “We are on the verge of a spiritual awakening in our state, if we, the Church of Jesus, will repent of our sins and call on the Name of the Lord. This is our wake up call!”

While the website recommends that individuals interested in fasting contact the clergy of their preferred denomination, they do offer a basic explanation of the practice. They state, “Fasting involves some form of abstinence from secular pursuits, and usually at least partial abstinence from eating in order to give more time and attention to spiritual pursuits. It might involve an abstinence from such ‘usual’ activities such as listening to music or watching TV. The focus should not be on WHAT we give up but instead should be on what we REPLACE it with. In other words, the ‘giving up’ of something is an opportunity for us to better focus on repentance and prayer.”

To get involved in CWA of Maine, go to Maine.cwfa.org or e-mail director@maine.cwfa.org. If you would like to get involved with one of our other fine state organizations, please visit the CWA in the States site.