Culminating one month of statewide prayer and fasting here in Tennessee, political leaders, pastors, and passionate prayer warriors gathered at a historic site in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, on Wednesday, July 31. I know because I was privileged to be there. This is an inspirational report to further the flames of intercession in the hearts of patriotic Americans at this critical time.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Franklin,  Tennessee, is a statue across the street from the “old county courthouse.” In 1865, a Civil War pastor and veteran, E.M. Bounds, gathered every Tuesday morning to pray for the new birth of a nation in the Civil War era. His classic book on prayer inspires scores to this day. It was at this exact place that I assembled with hundreds, and here’s the update.

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First, I encourage you to read HR 803 (linked here and at the end of this post), which established a month of prayer and fasting in the state. Prayer gatherings throughout the state during July have brought believers together to seek God, and they are also the starting point for our prayer event. Read the words of HR 803 and savor what devoted intercessors and leaders put forth as our centerpiece during this month.

Dr. George Grant, a nationally known leader, and Congresswoman Beverly Berger began with inspirational comments. State Rep. Fritts (who will appear on Pray with America’s Leaders, Thursday, August 1, 2024) spoke and then we prepared to pray passionately in accordance with 2 Chronicles 7:14. Then, pastors led us in prayer that we believe will rend the heavens for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our state and revival fires to burn afresh.

While many in our nationfocus on the presidential election, Tennessee set aside a month to focus on God. As darkness is increasing in our land and insidious spiritual forces attempt to bring about an end to our Founder’s vision for this nation, God intends to counter the negative with a Third Great Awakening so that we will experience a genuine turnaround in the United States of America. We must be watchmen on the wall (Isaiah 62:6) and informed influencers as we pray fervently and believe for God to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Our state of Tennessee is called the “Volunteer State,” and we align with the Psalm that says Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power (Psalm 110:3).

Will you join us in discarding all doubt, fear, unbelief, and cynicism, and choose to believe that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).

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Larry Tomczak has been an evangelist and cultural commentator for decades. He is also an IFA board member, a bestselling author, and a public-policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. His innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). Hear his weekly podcast here.

TENNESSEE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 803

By Fritts

A RESOLUTION to seek God’s hand of mercy healing on Tennessee.

WHEREAS, our State and Nation suffer from violence committed upon our citizens by our citizens; and

WHEREAS, our State and Nation suffer from violence committed upon our citizens by non-citizens; and

WHEREAS, acts of violent crime in our schools are unacceptable; and

WHEREAS, human trafficking is an unacceptable and violent evil in our State, enslaving lives and violating the core values of our Creator-endowed rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and

WHEREAS, drug addiction overwhelms our families, our government finances, our workforce productivity, as well as our healthcare and our law enforcement resources; and

WHEREAS, deadly fentanyl flows uncontrollably across our southern U.S. border resulting in the deaths of Tennesseans; and

WHEREAS, Driving Under the Influence, drunk driving, results in great pain and injury for Tennessee families; and

WHEREAS, we have approximately 9,000 children in need of foster care, indicating a brokenness in many Tennessee homes; and

WHEREAS, evidence of corruption in our federal government stands to impact every Tennessean; and

WHEREAS, our National and State Founders trusted in the omnipotent hand of Providence to guide and bless our land; and

WHEREAS, over decades, these leaders called our people to seek out the Creator’s favor by issuing proclamations like the one from John Adams on April 15, 1799:

[This day] be observed throughout the United States of America as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that the citizens on that day abstain, as far as may be, from their secular occupation, and devote the time to the sacred duties of religion, in public and in private; that they call to mind our numerous offenses against the most high God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, implore his pardoning mercy, through the Great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit, we may be disposed and enabled to yield a more suitable obedience to his righteous requisitions in time to come; that He would interpose to arrest the progress of that impiety and licentiousness in principle and practice so offensive to Himself and so ruinous to mankind; that He would make us deeply sensible that “righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” [Proverbs 14:34]; and

WHEREAS, we hold that our Founders correctly acknowledged Truth in their words; and

WHEREAS, we hold that “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psalm 127:1); now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, that the period of July 1, 2024, through July 31, 2024, be recognized as a time of prayer and fasting in Tennessee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recognize that God, as Creator and King of all Glory, has both the authority to judge and to bless nations or states.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we, as public servants in the Tennessee General Assembly, seek God’s Mercy upon our land and beseech Him to not withdraw His Hand of blessing from us.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we recognize our sins and shortcomings before Him and humbly ask His Forgiveness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we ask the Lord Jesus to heal our land and remove the violence, human-trafficking, addiction, and corruption.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we ask that the Holy Spirit fill our halls of government, our classrooms, our places of business, our churches, and our homes with peace, love, and joy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call upon all those who are physically able and spiritually inclined to do so to join in a thirty-day season of prayer and intermittent fasting as we begin a new fiscal year as a means of seeking God’s blessing and humbling ourselves to receive His Grace and Mercy, transforming ourselves, our communities, our State, and our Nation.