30 April – National Day of Fasting

One of the few times the Senate under President Abraham Lincoln voted unanimously was on a resolution introduced by Senator James Harlan of Iowa. Adopted on 03 March and signed under President Lincoln’s hand on 30 March 1863. The resolution came because the president of the United States needed a higher power. He had reached the end of his knowledge, skills, and abilities and turned to a power greater than himself for guidance and direction. I own several books on President Lincoln. The depression, despair, and grief of the lives lost and shattered on both sides of the Civil War had worn this president down physically, mentally, and spiritually. President Lincoln couldn’t sleep, could hardly be imposed upon to eat, and his closest advisors were worried about the president’s health.

Consider a time in your life when you have had substantial responsibilities, and everything you have tried has either failed miserably or made things worse. That was President Lincoln's position when he proposed a National Day of Fasting and Prayer. President Lincoln knew he was out of his depth; he had a contentious House and Senate. He had a war raging where people and material cost the nation more than money and resources, and he needed a solution. President Lincoln needed a checkmate, not just any solution, a game-changing solution that only the powers of heaven could provide. What inspires me, President Lincoln knew where he could turn for answers because of his previous experiences. Therein lay the lesson and reason for a National Day of Fasting and Prayer.

President Lincoln’s time in office also revealed a pattern, as described by Richard G. Scott.

“The tragic pattern is so familiar. It begins with curiosity fueled by stimulation and is justified by a false premise that there is no harm to anyone when done in privacy. For those captured by this lie, experimentation becomes powerful stimulations until the trap closes and a terribly immoral, addictive habit exercises vicious control.”

The Confederacy got into the problems they had through experimentation with human bondage. The sin of slavery was stimulated through prosperity and ease of work until slavery had infected every single colony and state in the Union, and a rebellion broke out over a State’s Right to continue enslaving people. The repentance process took an entire country, millions of lives, millions of dollars, and generations of heartache and stolen potential. Is it any wonder that the Civil War would require the best of everything that could be invented to finally get every person in America dedicated to ending the slave trades and human enslavement?

Every day we hear another politician or left-wing snowflake cry something is “sexist,” “transphobic,” “racist,” etc. Yet, America has proved time and time again that we learned the Civil War lessons, and we stand against human enslavement and bondage of any kind. And yet, the cry is heard; still, the problems exist.

America is the number one country for modern slavery, called sex trafficking, human trafficking, and forced indentured servitude. We have people disappearing and then reappearing either as a body in a ditch, or as victims of sex crimes and slavery, or worse, on a video for pornographic materials. Why is a National Day of Fasting and Prayer still needed so we may learn the modern lessons of the Civil War and ask for, and qualify for, the help of Heaven to rid America of these heinous crimes?

What other lessons can we learn from the Civil War and President Lincoln; let us start with the problems of gangs and internal terrorism. The Southern Confederacy began as internal terrorism. Don’t believe me; the Confederacy was not a recognized nation when Brigadier General Beauregard and his troops attacked Fort Sumter. Hence, terrorists attacked a military installation and won. Thus launching the Civil War.

We hear of drug cartels along the Southern Border hiding in National Parks, growing drugs for the American illicit drug markets. This is an act of war by terrorists, but the politicians will not send troops to fight this war and protect our boundaries. Maybe we need heaven's help to change the direction of America’s politicians.

We hear of shots fired across the border by gangs, drug cartels, and other modern-day terrorists. Haiti has become a “Hell on Earth” due to weapons shipped to gangs from America. Yet even though terrorists commit acts of war, the military is politically hindered in acting, innocent people die, and the politicians do nothing. Moreover, local DAs are not prosecuting and holding them in jail. Maybe we need the help of a power greater than ourselves to aid in ridding America of our enemies, “Foreign and Domestic.”

Daily, America suffers from gang violence from ANTIFA, BLM, MS-13, The Bloods, The Crips, and so many others committing acts of violence, destruction of private and public property, taunting the police, and banding together to gain political power. Daily, we see somewhere in America where gangs of youths are breaking into stores and robbing them blind. Maybe, just maybe, America could use a LOT more heavenly help to curb the violence and end the internal strife caused by, encouraged from, and paid for by people seeking political power (LIC).

The problem with LIC (Low-Intensity Conflict) is that eventually, the violence gets out of control, and wars begin! We have celebrities in Hollywood and other wealthy people are investing in the violence these gangs are perpetuating. Our current sitting president donated funds to these groups while a candidate, as did his vice president and members of Congress, are showing up to be photographed with rioters on college campuses. By practicing LIC, all of America suffers and hangs in the balance between anarchy and civilization. Of course, we need a power greater than ourselves to help curb the violence!

Without a greater power to aid in support of America, America will fall. America has always been a “Heavenblest land.” So, while only America has a National Day of Fasting and Prayer, I suggest all democratically elected countries have a similar day. The world needs help only heavenly powers can provide. I do not care about your religious flavor of belief, including unbelief; joining in a National Day of Fasting and Prayer is about coming together, unifying, and committing to upholding the principles of a free society, embracing liberty for all, and decreasing tyranny from the few! Please mark your calendars now and join the next National Day of Fasting and Prayer, 30 April 2024!

? 2024 M. Dave Salisbury, Ph.D.

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