Fasting for Our Nation

As a rule, the first Sunday of each month is set aside for fasting and prayer by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  A variety of things are accomplished by missing two meals during the day; the most obvious is the money which isn’t spent on those meals is diverted to a special fund to improve the lives of the less fortunate.  As you give from the heart, picture missing breakfast at a fancy hotel with your second meal at a nice steak house rather than missing an Egg McMuffin and later that day some item off the dollar menu; generosity requires an attitude adjustment.

While donating a sum of money toward feeding the hungry is a worthy effort, the purpose of a Fast also serves to awaken the spiritual side of individuals. 

Several of my friends have decided to ask Father in Heaven to help our nation through these difficult times, a unified effort pleading for guidance as we choose men of good character to be our leaders in government.  The prayers of righteous individuals reach God’s ear; let us join together and request His help at this time.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”   James 5:16

For too long we have seen a decline in our nation’s character; an entitlement mentality which has sapped the energy of self reliance and placed future generations into a state of indebtedness along with an overall lack of respect for basic principles of individual self governance which spring from the original Ten Commandments; these are taking a heavy toll on our society.

John F. Kennedy summed it up in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961; pointing out the need to find the American Spirit of self reliance rather than dependence on handouts.

“Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”

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“…let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

We have a choice; continue looking for handouts, to receive something for nothing from pandering politicians who promise hope and change, their secret combinations carried out in back rooms under a veil of secrecy and deceit; or, place our faith in God, looking upwards with a brightness of hope for His blessings.  

And so as we start this Sunday, let it be a day of fasting and prayer for our nation.  If we will acknowledge God’s hand in our daily lives and ask, believing that prayers are answered, our nation can and will be blessed as it has in the past. 

Tuesday is Election Day; consider prayerfully who has earned your vote.  Find the American can-do spirit, that spirit which has made us a nation to overcome incredible odds from our inception all the way until this time of uncertainty.  Choose carefully, as it was recorded in Proverbs:

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”

Haven’t we seen far too many individuals in positions of leadership who lack integrity, folks who lie and deceive in order to advance their agendas?  We’ve been brought to our knees, humbled if you will; but do we yet recognize the serious position we are now in?  Let’s do something right, let’s do it the Lord’s way.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.