WHAT DONALD TRUMP AND MIKE JOHNSON CAN DO TO SAVE AMERICA

If America is to be saved at this crucial time in her history, it will take more than political activism and social engagement. There must be, as the founding generation put it, “an appeal to heaven.” There must be a call for a national day of “humiliation and prayer.”

Although this should come from the sitting president, it is not going to happen with the Joe Biden administration. Biden’s Democrat party has affirmed atheism and disowned Biblical Christianity and is too embarrassed to call the nation to serious prayer.

On the other hand, both Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate for president, and Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, have demonstrated that they believe in the power of prayer. They should, therefore, take the lead in issuing a proclamation that calls the American people to prayer. Such a proclamation will be consistent with a long prayer tradition as delineated below.

The Pilgrims Pray

In 1621 the Pilgrims were experiencing unusually hot weather for New England and had not seen rain for months. Their crops were withering, and it looked as though hunger and even starvation could be their lot. It was at this time that William Bradford set aside a day for what he called “humiliation and prayer.”

By humiliation he did not mean a groveling or self-flagellation, but an acknowledgement of their own inadequacy and how much they needed God’s help. Their day of prayer began like so many others, stifling hot and not a cloud in the sky. However, before the day was over the sky clouded over and it began to rain with no wind, thunder, or lightning.

Their crops were saved, and they had an abundant harvest that fall, which led to the first American Thanksgiving. For every seemingly impossible situation they faced, the Pilgrims would set aside a day for “humiliation and prayer,” and it became the American way of addressing problems and challenges.

Congress and Washington Pray

 When the First Continental Congress met on September 5, 1774, they opened with an extended time of Bible reading and prayer. They were led by Rev. Jacob Duche of Philadelphia who read the entire 35th Psalm and then began praying for America, which was being invaded by the British whose troops had occupied the city of Boston and closed its port.

As he began praying, the Anglicans in the room, such as George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry, knelt according to their custom. Puritans and Quakers sat with bowed heads, but they were all in agreement as they made their appeal to heaven. It was a powerful and moving moment and John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, back in Boston, saying,

Who can realize the emotions with which they turned imploringly to heaven for divine interposition and aid. It was enough to melt a heart of stone. I never saw a greater effect upon an audience (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 108).

During the Revolutionary War, the Congress issued no less than 15 separate calls for special days of prayer and humiliation. For example, during the fall of 1776, when the morale of the army and populace had sunk to an all-time low because of a poor harvest and hardship on the battlefield, Congress proclaimed December 11, 1776, as “a Day of Fasting, Repentance, and Humiliation.” It reads, in part,

RESOLVED, That it be recommended to all the United States, as soon as possible, to appoint a day of solemn fasting and humiliation; to implore of Almighty God the forgiveness of the many sins prevailing among all ranks, and to beg the assistance of his Providence in the prosecution of the present just and necessary war (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 116-17).

There was an amazing change of circumstances after this, so much so, that Congress issued a proclamation setting aside a day of thanksgiving, because “it hath pleased Almighty God, the father of mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty.” The Congress then listed seven different accomplishments of God on the behalf of the nation, including,

Many instances of prowess and success in our armies and great abundance of the fruits of the earth of every kind, as not only to enable us to easily supply the wants of the army but gives comfort and happiness to the whole people (Hyatt, Pilgrims and Patriots, Second Edition, 122).

Prayer continued to be a daily part of the proceedings of the Continental Congresses. When, years later, in 1787, Benjamin Franklin called the delegates of the Constitutional Convention to prayer, he reminded them how they had had daily prayers in that room for God’s help against the British. Addressing the Convention president, George Washington, he then said, “Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered” (Hyatt, 1726:The Year that Defined America, 141).

Later that same year, after being sworn in as president, George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26, 1789, as a Day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation assumes the obligation of all citizens to honor God and to pray for His protection and favor. It opened with the following statement.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors received of Almighty God . . . (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America, 109).

Yes, prayer played a vital role in the founding of America. The Catholic scholar, the late Michael Novak, was correct in saying, “In all moments of imminent danger, as in the first Act of the First Continental Congress, the founding generation turned to prayer.”

Abraham Lincoln Calls the Nation to Prayer

In the midst of a horrible Civil War with tens of thousands dyeing on American soil, President Abraham Lincoln tapped into America’s prayer tradition and proclaimed a National Day of Prayer and Humiliation. In this proclamation, he lamented that the nation had completely misinterpreted the blessings she had been given. He said,

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 that made us!

He also expressed confidence that if they would meet the Divine conditions laid out in passages, such as II Chronicles 7:14, they could rest assured that God would hear their prayers. He said,

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace (Hyatt, 1726: The Year that Defined America1726: The Year that Defined America, 186).

The nation responded to Lincoln’s call for a day of prayer, humiliation, and the confession of national sins. And whereas the war had been going badly for the North and the American Union was in danger of being shattered, after this day of prayer, everything changed. The tide turned and the American Union was saved.

Trump and Johnson Can Save America

America 2024 is reeling with political and ideological chaos and the only thing that will save her is another national appeal to heaven. Sadly, I have no confidence that those of the Democrat Party will be involved, or even support, such an event. The ideal agents for convening such an event are Donald J. Trump and Mike Johnson, joined by members of the Senate and Congress and respected leaders of every denomination.

We understand that everyone will not participate, and many will oppose and ridicule. Nonetheless, if Trump and Johnson will take the initiative and proclaim such a day of prayer, I am confident that enough people will participate so as to create a spiritual and moral tipping point that may well change history and save America.

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is the author of numerous books including, 1726: The Year that Defined America,  which documents how the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent, His books are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.