Today on MoneyLife

Chuck Bentley begins today's MoneyLife broadcast by reporting that many listeners have written in to say they are going to join us in a season of prayer and fasting for our nation.

The call for prayer and fasting began when Chuck was asked what he would do to solve the economic crisis. He wrote out 7 Steps we should take to solve the the economic crisis from a biblical perspective.

Chuck says we are caught up in humanism, looking for man-made solutions to everything. He doesn’t see people looking to the Lord.

The first step is a 40-day time of prayer, fasting, and repentance. The real solution to this economic crisis is turning to God. Chuck cites 2 Chronicles 7:11-14.

After the break, Chuck tells listeners he has experienced the spiritual blessing of fasting. He says he wasn't always a Bible reader, but there came to a point in his life when he really wanted to know God and his wife pointed him to the Word. As he read Matthew 4, Holy Spirit impressed upon him the importance of feasting daily on the Word.

Chuck realized he had been living on bread alone and wasn’t alive. He vowed to faithfully read the Bible and learn to fast as Jesus did. He has has completed a 40-day fast from food more than once and says it was one of the greatest spiritual experiences of his life.

Chuck’s wife has asked him not to give up food this time because it’s disruptive to their family and makes it hard to be alert, function, and work. So instead, Chuck is going to give up a meal a day, all sweets, and intensify the amount of time spent in Bible study. The goal is to grow spiritually and seek God’s face.

Chuck asks listeners to declare what they’re going to fast from. He asks them not to do it to draw attention to themselves, but to go deeper with God and call upon Him to heal our land.

Chuck says he's amazed at the lack of leadership in America today and the refusal to admit the economic problems are greater than we can solve ourselves. He fears someone will rise up and falsely claim they can solve the problems. Instead, God’s people must go before the Lord and ask Him to intervene and change the direction of America.

The goals for this fast are for Christians to seek after God’s help and move away from humanism and for Christians to repent of violating Biblical values and principles, return to them, share them with others and serve others. Chuck cites Matthew 4:1-4.

After the break, Chuck tells listeners that Crown is launching a blog at Crown.org so people can interact with us during this season of prayer and fasting. We'll also post links to helpful information and tips.

One of those links will be to a guide on prayer and fasting written by Dr. Bill Bright. Chuck says he learned a lot from Dr. Bright about fasting before he did one. No one should go on a prolonged fast from food without a medical release from your doctor and some experience with fasting.

A 40-day fast is not something you should do as your first fast. Chuck recommends a short fast for the beginner. He tells listeners to fast as God leads them, knowing that our hearts must be open to the Lord.

A good place to begin is by determining if food should be the object of your fast. Other possibilities are media, busyness, worry/anxiety, spending, and poor health habits.

Dr. Bright said it was right to fast, good to fast, and that it should be a part of the Christian experience. H said our willingness to do it sets an example. Chuck recommends doing it in private because God wants you to experience the reality of Him. He cites Matthew 6:17-18, "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

God hears us whenever we pray. He wants us to see that it is He and not humans who provide for needs. America has moved away from the values taught in God’s Word.

We value small families and large houses instead of large families and small houses. We value instant gratification, consumption, and debt instead of production, saving and frugalness. We value entertainment instead of generosity.

If America can move away from humanistic values to biblical values that would be the repentance necessary to bring about spiritual revival.

After the last break, Chuck gives listeners a list of steps to take if they wish to participate in Crown's period of prayer and fasting:

• Set your own spiritual goals based on what God is leading you to fast from
• Keep a journal of the experience
• Use the blog to tell us what you’re doing

Chuck says fasting has always been a benefit to His relationship with the Lord. Some of his richest experiences where he grew to know God deeper occured during fasting.

Fasting has been forgotten in our culture today. Chuck’s prayer is that as listeners fast, they'll grow closer to God than at any other time in their lives. Chuck prays that listeners will intercede for America and ask the Lord to heal our land and restore the values He taught us in His Word.

Chuck prays that listeners will not only believe what God Word says about money but to live it out, and tostrengthen the Body of Christ to serve those in need.

Chuck says this could be a time when God uses pain to remind us of our need for Him. There’s a void right now and it’s time for spiritual leaders to point people to Christ for hope and a solution. No matter what happens with the economy, we need to be drawing close to the Lord.

This 40-day fast could be one of the greatest times of our lives as we see what only God can do. It is a time we must unite in humility and repentance and call upon the Lord and ask for His intervention on every level of our lives.

In closing, Chuck invites people to go to the blog at Crown.org for “daily encouragement” and “insights on what others are experiencing during this time”

Morality and Economics

The decline in moral standards and values not only affects our spiritual and emotional welfare, but it directly influences our value system.

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The Economic Earthquake of 2008

Our recent economic woes have shouted loudly that biblical principles apply to individuals, families, Wall Street firms, and even governments.

• Read More

Seven-Step Solution to the Economic Crisis

Our motivation should be to get our own house in order and prepare to serve those around us who are neither prepared or expecting the challenges we will face.

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Finances and your relationship with God

This generation’s greatest need is for God’s Word to be taught clearly and undiluted. The next greatest is for Christians to demonstrate that it works.

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Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes