Fasting for America

As I mentioned recently, some of us at Evangelicals for Mitt have been really caught up in the ups and downs of this Presidential race. We’ve noticed that our attitudes and emotions have been directly tied to polls, successes, and failures of the race.  This meant we were elated over Iowa, happy over New Hampshire, angry after South Carolina, and – then — incredibly disappointed when Iowa went into Santorum’s column.

That’s where we are, in the middle of all this chaos.  I think God is working on our hearts throughout this election and He may be working on yours too.

Psalm 57:7 says, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

What is it fixed on?  The ever changing polls?  The new Santorum surge?  The most recent Romneycare lie?  Even the future occupant of the Oval Office?

No.  Our hearts should be fixed on God.

Our confession last week was that our hearts were more fixed on, well, The Fix instead of our creator.  And so, after consulting with some of our EFMers, far and wide, we decided to take a reader up on a challenge e-mailed to us a couple of weeks ago.  (Thanks, Terry.)

We’ve decided to begin regular, weekly fasts between now and the election, and we’d like to ask you to join us.

What exactly are we doing and what are we asking you to do?

Fasting is simply abstaining from food for a certain amount of time in order to seek God.  It was a normal, and expected spiritual discipline in both the Old and New Testament time periods. (King David, Moses, and even Jesus fasted.)

This isn’t some sort of spiritual ploy to earn God’s favor.  Nor is it a way to manipulate this election or even create our desired outcome. This is a plea to God for our nation.

When: Every Monday, we will be fasting.  You are welcome to join us – or not.  No pressure.  If you don’t want to do this regularly, please consider joining us in a one-time nation-wide fast on Monday, March 5^th – the day before Super Tuesday.

How: Most of us will be fasting from food.  Some of us will also be fasting from Drudge, Fox News, CNN, and even blogging.  You might want to fast from just lunch (or meat, or chocolate, or whatever.  Just do what you’re led to do.)

Who:   Anyone can join us, regardless of party or preferred candidate.

What to Pray: Of course, you can focus on whatever you’d like in your own prayers.  Here are some of the things we might be praying about:

1. For our current President, that he’d have the moral and political courage to do what is best for the nation.
2. For our next president, that he’d set high moral and ethical standards of conduct for himself and those associated with him, setting and example for other world leaders to follow.
3. For our economy.
4. That judges of high moral character and sharp, legal minds would be added to the Supreme Court.
5. That the evil of abortion will end.

Starting this list makes me realize how many things could be on this list.  I also want to pray specifically for the Romneys, for fortitude and peace as they go through this election cycle.

I also want to pray for my own heart that I’ll trust in God more than I trust in our government or our leaders.

We started yesterday and will do it until the next President is elected.  Want to join us?  Please consider joining us on Mondays, with a special fast on March 5th.