For a while now, my heart has been breaking for this Nation, for how quickly it is becoming overwhelmed with evil, and how quickly it is turning its back on God, the foundation of our Nation. From the divorce rate increasing, personal debt skyrocketing, abortions, teen pregnancies, suicides, the emphasis on personal gain no matter what the cost or sacrifice, the dissolution of the traditional family, murders, materialism, the rate at which lawmakers and special interest groups are working on removing any reference to God from the public face of this Nation, the focus on outward appearances, and countless other factors, it is very apparent that we need to seek the forgiveness of God, and ask Him to forgive our Nation and help us to return to Him.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” By looking at that description, it fits our country to a T. We are called to be a light shining into dark places, and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16.) In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Bible says that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
To this end, I am calling for followers of Jesus Christ to humble ourselves before God, fasting throughout the day on Monday, January 28, 2008, and then praying together (wherever we are at at the time) at 7pm (Illinois time.) By joining together in this way, seeking the face of God on behalf of our Nation, we will be praying according to Matthew 18:20, “Again, I tell you that if two on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For wherever two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Some things we can pray for:
Our leaders (governmental officials, pastors, professors, bosses, etc,) that they would seek God’s guidance, that He would lead them according to His Will and purposes, that He would give them wisdom to lead and teach us according to His Truth, and that they would be bold and stand up for the Truth.
The peace of Jerusalem, God’s chosen people.
Our children, that God would give us the wisdom to lead them according to His ways and raise them and teach them in a way that brings honor to God; that they would be firm in their faith in the face of a society that devalues modesty, principles, and chastity, and that God would lead them and help them be bold to stand up for His Truth, no matter what the cost to their popularity, pride, finances, or life.
Our families and friends, and ourselves, that we would do the same.
The elections coming up, that Christians would turn out in record numbers to vote, and that strong believers would be elected into office across the country.
Our Nation, for forgiveness for turning away from God and for Him to heal this country and draw us closer to Him once again.
Some general stuff about fasting:
In a fast, the believer chooses, for a set period time, to do without something that is hard to do without (typically food, but it can be other things such as TV, the Internet, etc.) This is done so it does not come between the believer and God, so it cannot act as an idol in our life, and also to show our dependence on God’s provision. One important thing to note is that we are not to draw attention to what we are doing. Rather, follow the guidelines set in Matthew 6:16-18: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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.”
As we seek God together on behalf of our country, let us trust Him that He will lead us, will guide our words, and will use us to show His light in an increasingly dark world.