Daily Devotional

“Some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, ‘A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea. … And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and I proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:2, 3). 

It was early in March 1863—at the heartrending height of the Civil War—when an American senator named James Harlan introduced a resolution calling for the president to proclaim a national day of humility, prayer, and fasting. 

Harlan and many other leaders believed the people of the United States needed to humble themselves, repent of their sins and the sins of the nation, and fully seek God and His blessing and guidance. Abraham Lincoln agreed with this idea and signed it into law on March 30; it was observed one month later. But this was not the first time days of prayer had been enacted by the U.S. government. From 1775 through 1783, as the colonies struggled to become an independent nation, days of prayer and fasting were established by the men of the Second Continental Congress, who knew that the blessing of God was critical to true success. 

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, understood this principle as well. After taking the throne at the young age of 35, he actively promoted the worship of God, squeezed idolatry out of the land, and set up an equitable system of justice. 

This honourable king learned a tragic lesson when he made a mistake and went into battle alongside wicked Ahab, his son’s father-in-law; Ahab was killed in the conflict, and the battle was lost. 

After that, a repentant Jehoshaphat ramped up his evangelistic out- reaches throughout his kingdom and turned many people to the Lord. Later, when he heard that an enemy coalition—“a great multitude”—was on the way to attack his people, Jehoshaphat “proclaimed a fast through- out all Judah” and led a heartfelt prayer meeting at the temple. God heard the humble prayers of His people and miraculously defeated the massive army that came against them. 

In this world we often face great multitudes of trouble. But if we re- member to humble ourselves in prayer and fasting, God will work miracles for us too. 

Dear Lord, I’m so grateful that You always hear when I humbly call for help and guidance.