Call to Prayer and Fasting
13th July-2 August 2025
"Straits of Tammuz
We are standing at the threshold of a time marked by unprecedented spiritual and historical intensity. The rumblings of war echo across the nations, and tension is mounting around Israel—the epicenter of God’s redemptive timeline. In light of these realities and the themes of "Prepare for War" and the "Nehemiah Project," we are issuing this call for prayer and fasting. What we do now will determine how prepared we are for what is to come.
Why now?
We are entering the three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz, 13th July, and the 9th of Av, 2nd August, known in Jewish tradition as the "Straits of Tammuz" or "The Dire Straits"—a season historically associated with calamity, mourning, and national tragedy. It is no coincidence that during this window, some of the most devastating moments in biblical and Jewish history took place:
Now is the time to prepare our hearts through repentance, fasting, and prayer, so that we may clearly hear God’s voice, receive His revelation, and walk in alignment with His purposes for the critical season ahead.
FOCUS: LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR TRANSFORMATION Prepare our hearts through repentance, fasting, and prayer to receive new revelation and directives from the Lord for the coming season. Attached is a more in-depth look at a prayer guide focused on these issues. Key areas for thought and consideration in this time of heart preparation:
Traditional Jewish fast on the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av:
An epic war is forming before us. We, as Watchmen, need to be alert and stay spiritually astute to the times that are unfolding. This call to prayer and fasting will lay the foundations for a transformational shift and process old wineskins or thinking cannot hold. This is a call to make ourselves ready to receive the new things God will be doing now and in the future.
Why now?
We are entering the three-week period between the 17th of Tammuz, 13th July, and the 9th of Av, 2nd August, known in Jewish tradition as the "Straits of Tammuz" or "The Dire Straits"—a season historically associated with calamity, mourning, and national tragedy. It is no coincidence that during this window, some of the most devastating moments in biblical and Jewish history took place:
- The Tablets were broken when Moses witnessed the idolatry of Israel at Sinai (Exodus 32:19).
- The daily sacrifices ceased during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.
- The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans on the 17th of Tammuz in 70 AD—leading to the destruction of the Second Temple.
- An idol was placed in the Holy Temple, desecrating the sacred space.
- And culminating on the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av), both the First (586 BC) and Second Temples (70 AD) were destroyed—searing this date with generational sorrow and loss.
Now is the time to prepare our hearts through repentance, fasting, and prayer, so that we may clearly hear God’s voice, receive His revelation, and walk in alignment with His purposes for the critical season ahead.
FOCUS: LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR TRANSFORMATION Prepare our hearts through repentance, fasting, and prayer to receive new revelation and directives from the Lord for the coming season. Attached is a more in-depth look at a prayer guide focused on these issues. Key areas for thought and consideration in this time of heart preparation:
- Conviction of sin: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (James 4:17
- Sorrow over wrongdoing: 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
- Confession to God (and sometimes others) Ps 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
- James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
- Desire for change through God’s grace: 1 Cor 2:12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
- Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- Trust in the mercy of Christ: Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Traditional Jewish fast on the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av:
- 17th Tammuz, July 13th: No food or water from sunrise to sunset (Approximately 12 hours)
- 9th of Av, August 2: No food or water from Sunset to Sunset (24 hrs fast)
An epic war is forming before us. We, as Watchmen, need to be alert and stay spiritually astute to the times that are unfolding. This call to prayer and fasting will lay the foundations for a transformational shift and process old wineskins or thinking cannot hold. This is a call to make ourselves ready to receive the new things God will be doing now and in the future.
