By FRC's National Prayer Director, Pierre Bynum
Amid the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln called all Americans to a day of prayer, fasting, and "humili[ty]." The Prophet Joel, called Judah, the Southern Kingdom of a divided Israel, to a Solemn Assembly, saying: "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" Joel 2:12-13. We need such times of prayer and repentance in America today -- we have strayed so far from God and his ways.
As we all know, America's problems and divisions are not political at their root -- but spiritual. They can be resolved only when God's people choose to honor God, believe, and obey Him.
The Call2Fall is a reminder of the Biblical Solemn Assembly, prolonged seasons of prayer, repentance, fasting and returning to God. It is a powerful token that God has honored by His presence in churches and homes, again and again. Amid our personal, cultural and national sins, it is a reminder of the kind of prayer we need every day. It is not a fancy program or a big show. It is a time for churches to set aside time during their Sunday services, for all the people who can, to bow their knees before the Lord in humility and unite in repentant prayer for our nation. God's people have the answer. The Call2Fall Declaration, taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, reads:
I will answer God's call to fall on my knees in humility and seek His face in repentance so that He might forgive my sins and heal our land.
If your pastor has not planned a Call2Fall in your church, its not too late. Give him a call or send him a note pointing to "www.Call2Fall.com." Urge him to watch Tony Perkins' short video (for the congregation) and Dr. Ronnie Floyd's short video "for pastors only." Though the hour is late, your pastor and church can still join thousands of pastors and churches across America to observe the 11th Annual Call2Fall this Sunday, June 30th. If the church schedule simply cannot be adjusted, you can still network with believers across the land by taking time to humble yourself and pray -- on your knees by yourself at home -- or with your family, or friends. Given the great moral and spiritual need of our nation, let's humble ourselves before the Lord, together, before we break out the picnic gear and fireworks, and like our Forefathers, acknowledge our dependence upon Almighty God, before we celebrate our Independence on the 4th of July!
