Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. --JOEL 1:14

The Bible teaches that there are times for feasting and banqueting, but there are also times for fasting. Biblical reasons for fasting are national peril (Joel 1:2; 2:12); mourning (2 Samuel 12:16