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Shaping History Through Prayer And Fasting
The times we are living in are scary, to say the least, yet what we are facing isn't new. History is spotted with violent episodes of unimaginable carnage and terror. And what did people do about them? The only thing they could do––they prayed! Discover with Derek Prince how your prayers can make a difference. You can learn to touch the heart of God through effective fasting and prayer––prayer that will change the world!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
180 people are currently reading
785 people want to read
About the author
Derek Prince
803 books452 followersDerek Prince (1915-2003), was an International Bible teacher and founder of Derek Prince Ministries International, wrote more than fifty books.
He was born in India of British parents. Educated as a scholar of Greek and Latin at Eton College and Cambridge University, England, he held a Fellowship in Ancient and Modern Philosophy at King’s College. He also studied Hebrew and Aramaic, at Cambridge University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His daily radio broadcast, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, still reaches listeners around the world.
He was born in India of British parents. Educated as a scholar of Greek and Latin at Eton College and Cambridge University, England, he held a Fellowship in Ancient and Modern Philosophy at King’s College. He also studied Hebrew and Aramaic, at Cambridge University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His daily radio broadcast, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, still reaches listeners around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 28, 2020
I recommend this to every Christian; a truly marvelous book. The inimitable Derek Prince and gives Biblical instruction for how Christians are not only commanded to pray for their government but how they can fundamentally change it through fasting and prayer. Furthermore, it gives Biblical proof that good government IS the will of God AND that the requirements of a good government are far less than most would have you believe. Personality has nothing to do with it - there are only two things Scripture requires for good government. But I'll let you read it yourself to find what they are.
A practical guide full of concepts and instruction that will revolutionize your preconceived notions.
A practical guide full of concepts and instruction that will revolutionize your preconceived notions.
March 29, 2011
Concerned about the course of our nation? Wanting to make a difference in our culture or the lives of individuals? This is the book for you.
Speaking from scripture and personal experience, Derek Prince gives examples of the types of fasting and how believers can partner with God in shaping the destinies of entire nations and people through the discipline of "going without" and spending concentrated times in prayer. Not just the work of a few "super-spiritual" individuals, fasting and prayer is something all believers are encouraged to do.
I highly recommend this book to all believers, but especially to pastors, lay leaders, missionaries and those who feel called to pray for our nation and culture.
Speaking from scripture and personal experience, Derek Prince gives examples of the types of fasting and how believers can partner with God in shaping the destinies of entire nations and people through the discipline of "going without" and spending concentrated times in prayer. Not just the work of a few "super-spiritual" individuals, fasting and prayer is something all believers are encouraged to do.
I highly recommend this book to all believers, but especially to pastors, lay leaders, missionaries and those who feel called to pray for our nation and culture.
February 7, 2022
I learned so much from this book. It really does teach you a lot about fasting and prayer and how it truly does change the world. It includes incredible historical stories on how prayer fasting changed world and it gave me excitement for how prayer and fasting can change our future. Super good! Got convicted on fasting so… good stuff.
July 1, 2008
This book was given to me by someone I met, and since I was curious to do some more reading on fasting I thought I'd give it a try. There were certainly some interesting and inspiring things in it. I especially enjoyed learning about the various national days of fasting proclaimed by early American presidents. I was also challenged to pray for my government. But overall I didn't enjoy this book much. Prince doesn't do a very compelling job making his points, some of which seem just a bit overreaching to me. For example, the part where he strongly implies that his own personal weekly fasting led to the installation of Montgomery as the British general over Africa, and consequently saving the state of Israel, seems a like a bit of an extreme claim to make. I was even more surprised when he later implied that he and his prayer group were responsible (in prayer) for Stalin's removal from power through his death. To be honest, I actually appreciate that he sees prayer as being this powerful, and I agree that God could answer even one person's prayer on such a great scale. But it's a lot to claim that it was your own prayers that accomplished these things without providing at least some meaningful corroboration. That kind of reasoning really sinks this book, which is too bad since I'm sure Prince was a very devout and Spirit-filled man, and that he has a lot of wisdom to give. The fact that other readers have rated this book so highly suggests that he does have such a legacy.
March 24, 2025
“The prophecies and the promises of God’s Word are never an excuse to cease praying. On the contrary, they are intended to provoke us to pray with increased earnestness and understanding. God reveals to us the purposes that He is working out, not that we may be passive spectators on the sidelines of history, but that we may personally identify ourselves with His purposes and thus become actively involved in their fulfillment. Revelation demands involvement.”
Some books come to you at just the right time; this was one of those.
Some books come to you at just the right time; this was one of those.
June 2, 2023
I’m convinced that Derek prince is one of the most Holy Spirit filled men in our lifetime, if not in many many lifetimes. He is so wise and well versed in all things Jesus. I hope to read ever single book he writes one day. This one is an excellent one on prayer and fasting.
May 6, 2019
Still relevant, perhaps more than ever!
Succinct yet well illustrated with both personal and historical references, a strong statement of the call to fast in unity and an equipping guide pitched for real use.
Succinct yet well illustrated with both personal and historical references, a strong statement of the call to fast in unity and an equipping guide pitched for real use.
September 3, 2021
I read this book in order to develop the spiritual discipline of praying and fasting in my own life.
In today's church culture, fasting has lost its place as a major spiritual discipline. In this book, Derek Prince outlines not only many of the biblical examples of fasting, but also many of the examples of fasting in American history. He also shares examples from his own life of how fasting and prayer changed the course of events.
From the biblical fasting examples Prince gives, I learned that fasting was considered "a day of humiliation." For example, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), on which Jews fast for the whole day, is described in Scripture as a day when the people were to “humble their souls” (Lev. 16:31; 23:27; Num. 29:7) but not specifically told to fast from food. However, in Acts 27:9, the Day of Atonement is called "the Fast" (see the NASB; the NIV translates the Greek word "fast" as "The Day of Atonement"). Thus, the specific spiritual practice of fasting from food was how the Jewish people interpreted humbling their souls. Indeed, in many other examples of fasting the Bible, it is very often called a time for people to humble themselves. To name just one example, Isaiah 58:3 says,
From the examples of fasting in American history that Prince gives, I learned that the Pilgrims who came to America believed deeply in fasting and prayer, and the day before William Bradford and the Pilgrims left Holland to come to America, they fasted and prayed for a safe journey and God's wisdom and guidance. I also learned that our country, by order of the Congress and the President, has proclaimed many days of humiliation and prayer in our history, most often during times of war as a way for us to beseech God for his help and blessing. For example, three times during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln at the request of both the House and the Senate proclaimed a national day of fasting, for us to humble ourselves before the Lord. The official proclamation does not give precedence to any denomination, or even those of the Christian faith, but simply asks all people according to their faith to humble themselves and fast for our nation.
Finally, Prince gives examples from his own life of how fasting and prayer have changed the course of events. One that particularly stood out to me occurred when Prince was in North Africa during WWII, serving in the British army. The British army suffered a demoralizing defeat, retreating 700 miles from Tripoli to El Alamein where they faced the 1st battle of El Alamein. God put it on Prince's heart to intercede using this prayer: "Lord, give us leaders such that it will be for Your glory to give us victory through them." Prince also set aside Wednesdays as a day to fast along with praying. Many events unfolded after that prayer, including the replacement of the British leadership in North Africa with Bernard Montgomery, a highly disciplined man and a Christian. On the eve of the 2nd battle of El Alamein, Montgomery encouraged his officers and men to pray, saying, "Let us ask the Lord, mighty in battle, to give us the victory." The Allied forces won the battle, and Montgomery's call to prayer was reported on British radio, giving God the glory as Prince had been praying for!
This book convicted me that instead of complaining about our government, God wants me to pray (and fast) for our government. It also demonstrates that Christians have the power to change things through fasting and prayer, partnering with God in this way to bring God's will as it is in heaven to the world.
In today's church culture, fasting has lost its place as a major spiritual discipline. In this book, Derek Prince outlines not only many of the biblical examples of fasting, but also many of the examples of fasting in American history. He also shares examples from his own life of how fasting and prayer changed the course of events.
From the biblical fasting examples Prince gives, I learned that fasting was considered "a day of humiliation." For example, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), on which Jews fast for the whole day, is described in Scripture as a day when the people were to “humble their souls” (Lev. 16:31; 23:27; Num. 29:7) but not specifically told to fast from food. However, in Acts 27:9, the Day of Atonement is called "the Fast" (see the NASB; the NIV translates the Greek word "fast" as "The Day of Atonement"). Thus, the specific spiritual practice of fasting from food was how the Jewish people interpreted humbling their souls. Indeed, in many other examples of fasting the Bible, it is very often called a time for people to humble themselves. To name just one example, Isaiah 58:3 says,
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
From the examples of fasting in American history that Prince gives, I learned that the Pilgrims who came to America believed deeply in fasting and prayer, and the day before William Bradford and the Pilgrims left Holland to come to America, they fasted and prayed for a safe journey and God's wisdom and guidance. I also learned that our country, by order of the Congress and the President, has proclaimed many days of humiliation and prayer in our history, most often during times of war as a way for us to beseech God for his help and blessing. For example, three times during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln at the request of both the House and the Senate proclaimed a national day of fasting, for us to humble ourselves before the Lord. The official proclamation does not give precedence to any denomination, or even those of the Christian faith, but simply asks all people according to their faith to humble themselves and fast for our nation.
Finally, Prince gives examples from his own life of how fasting and prayer have changed the course of events. One that particularly stood out to me occurred when Prince was in North Africa during WWII, serving in the British army. The British army suffered a demoralizing defeat, retreating 700 miles from Tripoli to El Alamein where they faced the 1st battle of El Alamein. God put it on Prince's heart to intercede using this prayer: "Lord, give us leaders such that it will be for Your glory to give us victory through them." Prince also set aside Wednesdays as a day to fast along with praying. Many events unfolded after that prayer, including the replacement of the British leadership in North Africa with Bernard Montgomery, a highly disciplined man and a Christian. On the eve of the 2nd battle of El Alamein, Montgomery encouraged his officers and men to pray, saying, "Let us ask the Lord, mighty in battle, to give us the victory." The Allied forces won the battle, and Montgomery's call to prayer was reported on British radio, giving God the glory as Prince had been praying for!
This book convicted me that instead of complaining about our government, God wants me to pray (and fast) for our government. It also demonstrates that Christians have the power to change things through fasting and prayer, partnering with God in this way to bring God's will as it is in heaven to the world.
April 26, 2022
From my reading of Derek Prince, this book is definitely above average even if it still suffers from the same things that most of his writing. The good thing here is that, even if his biblical knowledge seems to be based on his own reading alone and no other sources, the historical information here is from other sources which make this book better founded. There are problems here when he attributes prayer to be the source of some history-changing events, and even if it may be so, it has to be taken by faith as no real proof is given(as that is very difficult). There are also some practical points of fasting, and as a book about fasting, this could be a nice addition to the collection as it gives a "Derek Prince" perspective, meaning, it does not lean on other writings and is in that sense pretty original(which may be both good and bad).
March 17, 2024
As a Catholic, I do not subscribe to all of this author's teachings. HOWEVER, I have never felt so compelled or convicted to fast before, especially for breakthrough within the counry and government. The way Prince speaks of fasting has brought about a brand new desire in me to fast and pray not as something special and extra but as an expectation of being a disciple of Jesus. This book, combined with Lou Engle's The Jesus Fast, are catalysts to renewal for the Christian in this area. I highly recommend it but again caution that some of his interpretations of scripture are not in line with the magisterium. But the gold mine of wisdom is worth the read. (And for those of other denominations, great! Read this book!)
January 16, 2019
The Book helped to spur my hunger for my beloved country, Nigeria.
I have always believed in the power of Prayer to shape the course of History.
But by the book, I saw that my role in deeper, detailed and delineated terms.
God is looking for Daniels, men who would stand in the gap for the country!
I would recommend it to anyone who pangs to see their nation changed by fasting and praying for their Jerusalem.
Thank you for writing Dr DP.
I have always believed in the power of Prayer to shape the course of History.
But by the book, I saw that my role in deeper, detailed and delineated terms.
God is looking for Daniels, men who would stand in the gap for the country!
I would recommend it to anyone who pangs to see their nation changed by fasting and praying for their Jerusalem.
Thank you for writing Dr DP.
November 4, 2022
This book is about shaping the destiny of a nation through powerful prayer and fasting based on biblical precepts. It provides a very good theology for living the basic meaning of fasting in building the kingdom of God. It tries to convince Christians that fasting is not an option but a basic Christian duty . It also provides practical testimonials from the author's own life and the environment surrounding him.
May 12, 2022
I always glean Biblical insight reading book by Derek Prince. I especially appreciate the historical quotes from our founding fathers throughout this book. Such a rich heritage of Godly men and women we have here in America. So inspiring for us in 2022 to carrying on the Biblical mandate to pray and fast for our nation both corporately and personally.
May 5, 2022
How prayer and fasting could change a nation, and America already did this in the past. This book explaining how collective prayer and fasting have its own power, and many tips here how to conduct it.
January 20, 2023
A great read
This book was very intriguing and gave a lot of interesting segments about fasting and how it is important. Particularly with prayer. I may possibly read this book again very soon.
This book was very intriguing and gave a lot of interesting segments about fasting and how it is important. Particularly with prayer. I may possibly read this book again very soon.
July 1, 2023
Another wonderful book wrote by Derek Prince.
America has become a scary place. We need to
return to God before it's to late. We need to join together with fasting and prayer for America. I pray more Christians will read this and act upon it.
America has become a scary place. We need to
return to God before it's to late. We need to join together with fasting and prayer for America. I pray more Christians will read this and act upon it.
September 14, 2023
In general I thought this book was interesting and worth reading; however, at points it seemed to me not to really support the title and move slowly. However, I found it worthwhile enough to share with friends.
February 28, 2024
This is an essential book for Christians. Theologically covers the biblical mandate to pray while also giving so many historical references as to how fasting changed the course of history. Much needed faith booster and encouragement to pray and fast!!!
December 5, 2017
actual rating: 3.5
October 7, 2018
This is a book that sparks revival in the hearts of those that read it. Indeed we have the responsibility to shape history for His Glory
April 17, 2020
a perspective we seldom remember. Our high destiny...
July 3, 2023
No disappointment, Derek Prince has again expounded on God’s word and paralleled it with history tying it together for all to grasp and hold on to God’s promises.
June 27, 2025
Let’s just say what everyone is thinking: Derek Prince is a wannabe of C.S. Lewis.
His writings are a little disjointed and I didn’t find it to be convincing.
His writings are a little disjointed and I didn’t find it to be convincing.
June 29, 2025
A call to return to our country’s Christian heritage.
December 10, 2015
This book started out with an explosion! I was drawn in. But the rest of the chapters were not as good as the first. I enjoyed it though but it was not as impactful as The Fasting Edge by Franklin Jentezen. The title was more powerful than the content. But all in all, it was okay - at least it held my attention till the last page.
October 8, 2024
I have read this book off and on over the last 20 years. Just finished it again. This book is by far Derek Prince's best work; clear, concise, authoritative, and well written. This book is a must read in understanding proper intercessory prayer.
Read again in 2024 - outstanding!
Read again in 2024 - outstanding!
July 15, 2015
I love to read and our counselor recommended this to me one day. Wow, for such a time as this! Really opened my eyes to the fact that many times I've glossed over the commands or mentions of the people praying AND fasting, just focusing on the praying part. Great encouragement, Christians.
May 1, 2008
If Abraham can petition God to save Sodom for ten righteous people. How many people can the believers petition God for, to have mercy on the USA?
February 17, 2008
It has opened my eye to how prayer and fasting has changed my life and we can change history if we fast and pray
September 27, 2009
Our prayers shape history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews