13/01/2026
🔥 WHY WE FAST & PRAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
The message on 12 January 2026 by our Bishop, Apostle Shemmy Makelele, was on 'Why we fast and pray at the start of the year', where we were reminded that every year, God opens a season of preservation, direction and grace for His people, which we must embrace.
🌱 *Why the Beginning Matters*
How you start the year influences how you experience the rest of it as first things are always foundational.
To be prophetically minded means deciding now how you want the forces of life to treat you. Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:12 that we can determine how we want others to treat us.
"What you don’t want done to you, don’t do to others. What you want to see in the year, begin declaring it now."
Jesus also placed fasting alongside giving and prayer three acts of righteousness
Matthew 6:1-18 ...and before stepping into ministry, He separated Himself 40 days and nights
Matthew 9:14-16, Luke 4:1-2
"Whatever we hope to achieve, must be launched from the altar of prayer and fasting the place where God determines speed, accuracy and impact."
✨ Eight Reasons We Fast & Pray
1️⃣ We Honour God With the First Fruits
God instituted the law of first things (*Exodus 13:1; Deut. 26:1-4*).
When we tithe our first days, we allow God to bless the rest. When you fast for 40 days.
What you receive in the 40 days will honour your 346 remaining days.
2️⃣ We Seek Divine Guidance
We have never walked this year before.
But God knows the end from the beginning.
As we seek Him, He prepares us for battles ahead (*Joel 3:14, Joshua 3:4, Isaiah 58:11*).
3️⃣ We Silence Potential Battles
Before battles appear physically, we deal with them spiritually.
Like the arrows in 2 Kings 13:14-16, prophetic declarations matter.
Maximize prayer, maximize decrees.
4️⃣ We Humble Ourselves & Crucify the Flesh
Pride opens doors to destruction.
Fasting reminds us we are nothing without God.
5️⃣ We Prepare the Ground for Supernatural Results
Fasting is spiritual cultivation.
This year, may your results be supernatural (Isaiah 58:3).
6️⃣ We Receive Spiritual Cleansing & Personal Revival
Many carry wounded hearts—hurt, bitterness, unforgiveness.
God restores purity and clarity (Psalm 50:10-12; Isaiah 58:8).
Don’t worry about what people say or think about you, worry about God’s approval.
7️⃣ We Allow God to Commission Us for Kingdom Assignments
Every believer has a calling—regardless of their profession.
Acts 13:1-4 reminds us that God sends ordinary people into extraordinary assignments.
This year, build God’s kingdom where you are—business, ministry, home, academia.
8️⃣ We Attract Cooperate Blessings
God moves not only on individuals but on communities.
Just as He covered Israel under one cloud (*1 Cor 10:1-4),
there are blessings meant for all of us when we fast and believe together.
⭐ Conclusion
This is a season of preservation, direction, cleansing, commissioning and blessing.
Step into it!
Embrace it!
Declare it!
Let God shape your year before life does.
🔥 *Start strong — finish victorious!
