Nearly a month after calling Christians to the nation’s capital for a prayer march, Franklin Graham is calling on them again, this time to join him for a day of prayer and fasting. Graham posted to his Facebook page October 20th,

“I urge you to join me for a day of prayer and fasting for our nation on this Sunday, October 25. The upcoming election is the most important in our lifetime—with two diametrically different directions for this country on the ballot. Our only hope is in God, and we need to call out to Him for His help and intervention. Will you join me—and will you share this with others?”

A similar message went out on his Twitter page.

The BillyGraham.org website shared a further appeal.

“Today, our nation is at a critical juncture. We need to call out to God for His help, His intervention, and His mercy. It is only by His hand that America will survive and be able to thrive again.”

Graham described how King Jehoshaphat, when the very survival of his nation was at stake, called on his people to fast. When the people turned to God, He delivered them. The story is captured in 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So, Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”

According to Graham, as much is at stake now as it was then. The decision is between “two vastly different directions for the future of this country. This not only affects us, but our children and our grandchildren.”

Pastor Myles Holmes of REVIVE Church in Collinsville agrees with Graham’s call to prayer and fasting, saying, “the most earth-shaking, culture-shaping interventions of God’s Holy Spirit changing our world have always been in response to the fervent, faith-filled fasting & prayer of God’s people. There is simply no other pathway to repentance, revival and restoration.”

Church of Christian Liberty Pastor Calvin Lindstrom wisely points out, “We trust not in our own prayers, but if we are not praying, then are we really trusting in the Lord? We must pray not because of who we are, but because we serve a faithful, sovereign God who does hear the prayers and cries of His people.”

Rev. Richard Valkanet, senior pastor of Living Waters Church in Grayslake reminds us that, “in times of great stress, people of God have always turned to the Lord with “fasting & prayer.” George Washington proclaimed a Day of Prayer in 1789.  Lincoln put forth a proclamation for a Day of Fasting and Prayer in March, 1863. If there ever was a day as the one we are in, it would be most appropriate for all true believers to unite, petitioning God’s divine intervention as we repent.”

Striking a similar chord in the October issue of Decision Magazine, Rev. Graham wrote,

“If we truly want the blessings of the Lord on our country, then we must come humbly before Him, seek His face in prayer and fasting and repentance, and ask if He might by His grace and mercy bring healing to our troubled nation.”

His “To the Point” column message paraphrased 2 Chronicles 7:14 and echoes his October 20th call. Decision is a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association publication, of which Graham serves as editor-in-chief.

The son of the late evangelist Billy Graham and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse Ministries was joined by thousands on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the September 26th National Prayer March. Participants in the non-political event asked God to save the country from its current situation and petitioned Him for peace. Other prayer topics included the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, ongoing nationwide protests and rioting, and upcoming national elections.

Take ACTION: Join the IFI board of directors and staff as we intentionally fast and pray for our state and nation this Sunday. Please pray for God’s mercy on this state and on our nation. Pray for the election of God-fearing candidates to every level of government. Pray for wisdom for voters and a safe and fair election.

HELP: Our get-out-the-vote campaign is up and running. 

We are distributing the IFI Voter Guide to hundreds of churches and civic groups throughout the state..
Will you financially support our endeavor to educate Illinois voters and promote Christian family values?

Written by Pastor Calvin Lindstrom
Church of Christian Liberty & Christian Emergency League

To any discerning Christian, it should be obvious that we have serious moral, cultural, political and financial problems in our nation and our state.

Especially for those who have been living in Illinois, it is easy to be discouraged and weary. For all of our prayers and efforts to stand for truth, we ask where is the fruit?

A study of Scripture and church history shows that there are times when God’s people are called to endure long seasons of challenge. We are also called to recognize that the battle we face is ultimately a spiritual battle. We are not given a full understanding in Scripture of all that takes place in the spiritual realm, but from the book of Daniel and other places in Scripture we know that much more is taking place than we realize.

Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

What are God’s people called to do in during great spiritual battle? We are called to pray and stand boldly as witnesses to God’s truth.

In Romans 15:30 Paul begged his readers to strive together with him in prayers to God for his ministry. The Greek word translated as strive together means to join with someone in severe effort.

There is a blessing in prayer, but the word striving reminds us that prayer is not always easy or pleasant.

We must continually battle the world and our flesh as we stand alert to the wiles of the devil.

On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Governor J. B. Pritzker is scheduled to present his budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 (the fiscal year begins July 1).

The Illinois Family Institute is calling for a Day of Prayer and fasting on this day.

We know that our state is broke financially. In the midst of this financial brokenness, forces of evil are pushing for laws to promote even more killing of unborn children.

Abortion is just one of the fruits of sin, but it is a particularly poisonous fruit. We pray against wicked legislation that will only encourage more killing.

As part of your prayers and witness, keep in mind two bills regarding abortion: HB 2495 (which further promotes abortion) and HB 2467 (repeals parental notification).

Let us pray that as God humbles us, He will also strengthen us (Psalm 31:24).

Let us pray that God, through the mighty working of the Holy Spirit, will revive His people and church in our state and bring many more to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 85:6).

Let us pray that God will bring conviction to our lawmakers that each one will have to give account to Him for all their votes (Psalm 2:12).

And let us pray that God will bring glory to His name and that all might know that our God is alone Lord and ruler over heaven and earth (2 Kings 19:19).