Schedule | - 4:12 pm
From February 12th to 18th
Beginning Thursday (February 12), the guidance is clear: watch, persevere, and engage in greater consecration. Throughout these seven days, the 7 Days of Spiritual Battle and the Fast of Zacharias will involve specific spiritual battles in different areas of life, alongside a fast from negative words.
Unlike other fasts, the Fast of Zacharias does not require abstaining from food. Instead, it encourages participants to refrain from negative speech.
This means that for seven days, participants commit to avoiding murmuring, grumbling, complaining, criticizing, or speaking ill of anyone, including themselves.
This experience encourages us to consciously monitor our speech and replace negativity with words of faith, gratitude, and edification. The proposal is based on the biblical principle that words possess spiritual power and directly influence the lives of those who speak them.
The purpose of this fast is grounded in the biblical story of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. Although Zacharias was a righteous and faithful priest, he doubted the promise delivered by the angel Gabriel, leading to his silence until the fulfillment of the Word (Luke 1:5–22).
Rather than a punishment, Zacharias’ silence served as a form of protection. He could not use words of doubt to obstruct God’s plan.
This lesson remains relevant today: often, the biggest barrier between a promise and its fulfillment lies within our own words.
The Bible warns us about the power of the tongue. In James 3:10, it states:
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Similarly, Proverbs 13:3 teaches:
He who guards his mouth preserves his life…
In this light, the Fast of Zacharias stresses that the mouth was created to bless, not to curse. When feelings of complaint arise, the practical guidance is simple: speak to God rather than grumbling to people. After all, words spoken into the void produce effects in the spiritual realm.
The seven days culminate on Wednesday (February 18) with a message inspired by Isaiah 61: the exchange of ashes for a crown.
While the world indulges in fleshly pleasures that often lead to spiritual emptiness, those who participate in this fast choose to seek the Holy Spirit, the true crown promised by God.
Thus, the Fast of Zacharias serves as a practical invitation to intelligent faith—one that watches, takes action, and speaks in alignment with the Word.
Participate in the Fast of Zacharias from February 12th to 18th at The Universal Church. This decision begins with the words we speak but has the power to transform our entire lives.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of religious beliefs or background. Come as you are. For more information, please call 1-888-332-4141or text 1-888-312-4141.
If you live in a city without one of our locations or cannot commute due to health reasons, we invite you to join our Virtual Church via Zoom and phone conference.
Contributors:
Rafaella Rizzo (Translated and Adapted From Original)
