A Day of Prayer and Fasting for Texas on August 6, 2011
The Fasting and Prayer Rally, announced by Governor Rick Perry of Texas for August 6th, has historic precedence. Fasting and prayer has been strongly suggested during times of trouble and travail in this country. God is the proven True Source of bounty within our lives. Let’s explore the history and hopefully discover the logical reasons many have tried the path of prayer and fasting in troubled times. Faith in a higher power has been proven a wise course in a number of incidents throughout our nation's journey.
During the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln, Senator James Harlan introduced the Proclamation for a National Fast Day. His daughter would later marry President Lincoln’s son, Robert. The Proclamation was adopted on March 3, 1863, and signed on March 30th of that year, one month before the observation of this fast day.
In what has been called, 'The World's Most Famous Sermon' ,US Senators along with President Lincoln, expressed their belief that the nation's collective sins could have been the underlying cause of the War Between the States, one of the darkest times in our country's history. Rather than continue in pride and arrogance, many came to believe the nation ought to mourn its sins and repent, lest worse things come upon it.
This Proclamation states that the President and the Senate recognize the Supreme Authority and Government of God. The duty of nations and men owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God by confessing sins and transgressions with hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon. It recognizes the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
We have been preserved these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no nation has ever grown. But, we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied, enriched, and strengthened us. We have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power to confess our national sins, and pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Quotes from 2 Famous Americans Who Tested the Power of Prayer
“Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”
Benjamin Franklin
“To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.”
Billy Graham
A Sterling Example
One of the most touching times God was called upon to bless this nation was upon the occasion of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s radio broadcast of June 6, 1942 in which the American president calls for God’s blessing on this country during wartime. It has been called the ‘D-Day Prayer.’ This gives the text of this heartrending prayer.
Benjamin Franklin, the 15th of 17 children, began his apprenticeship as a printer at the age of twelve. He initially gained wide acclaim as a literary genius for the annual publication of Poor Richard’s Almanac (1732-1757) This publication included numerous proverbs, such as ‘God heals, and the doctor takes fees’, and ‘God helps them that help themselves’, and many more. He taught himself 5 languages and soon became known as ‘the Newton of his Age’.
This scientific genius made discoveries in electricity and coined such terms as ‘positive and negative charges’ and ‘electric shock’ His invention of the lightning rod earned him the Royal Society’s Copley Medal, as well as honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale Universities in 1753. This was his 47th year. He had barely begun.
He invented the Franklin stove, the rocking chair, and bi-focal glasses. Then went on to organize America’s first postal system, the first volunteer fire department, a circulating public library, a city police force, and accomplished the lighting of streets. A firm believer in God and His massive power, in 1748, as Governor of Pennsylvania, he proposed Pennsylvania’s First Fast Day.
His autobiography remained unpublished during his lifetime. He possessed a small book he always carried with him during his life which was composed of a list of 13 virtues he had chosen for lifetime goals. #13 of those goals from this humble God-believing soul was briefly stated, in the following words...Humility...Imitate...Jesus.
The following words compose his personal everyday prayer. He was a firm believer in the majesty and power of God. He believed that God was the source of everything good and true.
"O, Powerful goodness!
Bountiful Father!
Merciful Guide!
Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest.
Strengthen my resolution to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual favors to me."
God certainly did a magnificent work through this American patriot for many years, didn’t He?
Billy Graham, the author of the other quote, is quite well-known for his ministerial years of serving God, along with his beloved wife, Ruth Bell Graham, who is now gone, He continues his journey in faith. Their grown children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren, are hopefully following in unwavering faith. For years, Billy and Ruth Graham served God, bringing His blessings to millions on television, and in personal visits in this country and throughout the world.
Maybe this idea to call on God as a help in this country’s time of drought and the massive destructiveness of monster tornadoes, the strength of which is unimaginable should lead us as a great nation straight into this decisive action.
In an attitude of prayerful humiliation and with serious thought for the welfare of future generations, the supreme sacrifices our soldiers, sailors, marines, and other military have contributed in past years into the present, let us proceed into the uncertain future.
With sincerity, love, respect, and maturity, let us journey forward as a people clothed within a united humble spirit with a voice of harmony accompanied by joy...
Support the Fasting and Prayer Rally in Houston with Governor Rick and wife, Anita Perry.
Sources:
- Abraham Lincoln
- Prayer Quotes
- D-Day Prayer
- Benjamin Franklin
- 'The World's Most Famous Sermon'
- Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Catherine Millard, The Rewriting of America’s History, Camp Hill, PA. Horizon House Publishers, 1991, p.123
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