Praying for Miracles in America

CBN.com-THE POWER OF PRAYER IN HISTORY
In 1746, 13,000 French troops sailed to America to lay waste to the American colonies.  Massachusetts Governor proclaimed a Day of Prayer and Fasting.  Rev. Thomas Prince prayed, “Send thy tempest, Lord, upon the water, scatter the ships of our tormentors!”  The skies darkened, winds shrieked, and church bells rang wildly.  A hurricane subsequently sank and scattered the entire French fleet.

During the Revolutionary War in the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, George Washington moved his troops to New York.  Before long, British troops filled the New York harbor.  On May 15, Washington said, “The Continental Congress having ordered …a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please Him to pardon all our manifold sins...and finally establish the peace and freedom of America upon a solid and lasting foundation….”  This was the first major battle after America had claimed her independence.  Washington expected an attack from the sea.  Instead, 10,000 British troops landed a distance from New York and attempted a surprise attack on the Continental Army from behind.  Eight thousand American troops were trapped, and had their backs against the sea.  Washington ordered the men to be ferried across the East River to Manhattan Island.  The next morning, as troops were evacuated by ferry, a dense fog appeared and blocked the evacuation from being seen by the British.  Had the Americans not been able to evacuate, the war would have ended there.  As it happened, the British never had such an opportunity to capture the entire American Army at once.

At the onset of the War of 1812, James Madison proclaimed a Day of Prayer.  “I do therefore recommend...public homage…acknowledging the transgressions which might justly provoke His divine displeasure, seeking his merciful forgiveness…to do to others as they would require that others should do for them.”  A month later, the British marched on Washington, DC and burned the White House, Capitol and public buildings.  Suddenly dark clouds rolled in and a tornado touched down sending debris flying, blowing off roofs and knocking chimneys down on the British troops.  A historian noted: “More British soldiers were killed by this stroke of nature than from all the firearms the American troops mustered.  Two weeks after the war ended in 1815, Madison proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving and Devout Acknowledgement to Almighty God.

During the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.  He said, “And I hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes…..all this being done, in sincerity and truth…”  Two days later, a freak accident occurred which changed the course of the war.  Lt. General Stonewall Jackson, one of the greatest generals of the South, was returning to camp at twilight.  One of his own men shouted, “Halt,” but without waiting for a reply fired a volley of shots.  Jackson’s injuries resulted in pneumonia.  Many historians say that had Jackson been alive and commanded later at the Battle of Gettysburg, the South may have won the battle and the war may have had a completely different outcome

Bill was raised Catholic in a family of 11 children.  At 24 he began dating his future wife Susan, and noticed that her mom watched The 700 Club.  After accepting an invitation to attend a FGBMI meeting, he went forward because the other men had something that he wanted.  He gave his life to Christ soon after.  Once married and living in Texas, Bill was drawn into politics during Pat’s presidential run.  A former youth pastor, Bill stayed interested in politics and was asked to run against Gephardt, which turned into one of the closest races in the nation.