We call for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting on 19 February 2012, to pray for Australia to turn back to God. The purpose of this call to prayer is for the Renewal and Transformation of Australia as a nation with Jesus Christ as Lord.
The National Day of Prayer and Fasting will take place on Sunday 19 February 2012 at Parliament House, Canberra from 10am – 4pm as well as in churches, homes and public places all over Australia, all at the same time. If possible, we ask each church to send one person to represent them for our time of prayer at Parliament House. The important thing is to mobilise your church to pray.
The vision is to hold a National Day of Prayer and Fasting every year for 5 years on the Sunday before Lent begins, and to use the National Day of Prayer and Fasting to promote a 40 day period of prayer and fasting during Lent. Many churches are already praying through Lent. Lent in 2012 is from the 22 February to 1 April. The foundational vision of this 40 day period of prayer and fasting would be the same as the National Day of Prayer and Fasting. That is the spiritual renewal and transformation of our nation through the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. How you choose to observe this call to prayer would be up to you. Maybe a Daniel Fast (vegetarian diet), maybe missing one meal a day or fasting one day a week.
For more information about prayer and fasting go to:
http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting/index.htm
During the period of Lent there is a clear focus on what Jesus Christ has done through the work of the Cross which helps bring clarity of purpose and makes unifying across denominational barriers easier. Our focus for this first year of the 5 Year Prayer Plan is to see people come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Saviour. If this nation is to come back to Christ we must first see individuals come to Christ as He is the only hope for our nation. That is why this year’s theme is – Soul Focus.
In 1901, at the time of Federation, 96.1% of Australians claimed to be Christians. The last census in 2006 only 63.9% of Australians called themselves Christians. The real figures for those who practice their faith through Church attendance is much worse. Church attendance has been falling since Federation with only 8.8% going to church weekly. That is why we begin this 5 year period of prayer for our nation to come back to God with a focus for souls. National Transformation begins one soul at a time.
For more information visit the website, www.nationaldayofprayer.com.au.