Whereas, Almighty God is Lord over all nations and rulers, and Holy Scripture commands the church that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1–2);
Whereas, Almighty God is the supreme Lord and King of all the earth, before whom all nations and rulers are bound to bow, and whereas He has exalted His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be King of kings and Lord of lords, “the highest of the kings of the earth”, giving Him dominion over the nations and commanding the kings and judges of the earth to serve Him with fear, to rejoice with trembling, and to kiss the Son, lest He be angry; and elsewhere expressly calling all kings to fall down before Him and all nations to serve Him (Ps. 2:10–12; Ps. 72:10-11; Ps. 89:27; Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 28:18; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 19:16);
Whereas, we have a particular Christian duty to pray for those whom God in His providence has placed in civil authority, that they might, for their own good and for the good of those they rule over, submit themselves to Him and so govern according to His will that they might rule with true godly fear and wisdom, justice, integrity, and righteousness, that they might punish those who do evil and praise those who do good as servants of God, and that under their government the church might “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:2; Rom. 13:4; 1 Pt. 2:14);
Whereas, “righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people”, and our nation has defiled herself by her iniquities and is in a state of deep spiritual decline and rebellion against Him, and stands in great need of the mercy of Almighty God, and we ourselves, as members of Christ’s church, have abundant cause to humble ourselves before Him for our personal and ecclesiastical sins, remembering that judgment begins at the house of God (Prov. 14:34; 1 Pet. 4:17);
Whereas, the people of our nation are in great need of the saving work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, and need also laborers to preach the gospel to them, that they might hear and be saved;
Whereas, Holy Scripture repeatedly sets forth solemn prayer and fasting as an appropriate response of the people of God in seasons of extraordinary need, public distress, spiritual declension, and threatened judgment (2 Chron. 20:3–4; Joel 2:12–17; Dan. 9:3–19);
Whereas, the Westminster Confession of Faith expressly recognizes “solemn fastings” among those acts of worship which, “in their several times and seasons, are to be used in an holy and religious manner” (WCF 21.5);
Whereas, the setting apart of particular seasons for prayer, fasting, humiliation, and intercession in times of national distress and spiritual declension has substantial precedent throughout Presbyterian and Reformed history;
Therefore, be it resolved, that Vanguard Presbyterian Church designate Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, as a Day of Solemn Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation and Her Leaders, and calls for its observance by the Sessions and congregations under its care, excepting those who are unable to fast due to health concerns; and, furthermore, strongly encourages all other true believers and churches to join in this day of prayer and fasting.
And be it further resolved, that on this day our churches be encouraged to humble themselves before God; confess personal, ecclesiastical, and national sins; pray for the President, Congress, governors, judges, magistrates, and all others in civil authority; beseech God to restrain wickedness, protect innocent life, preserve peace and good order, and grant wisdom and righteousness to those who govern; and earnestly seek the reviving work of the Holy Spirit upon the church, the conversion of the lost, and the free course of the gospel throughout our land;
And finally, be it resolved, that in all these petitions our highest end be the glory of the Triune God, the purity and peace of Christ’s church, the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the salvation of sinners.
Approved Motion: That Vanguard Presbyterian Church adopt the foregoing resolution and appoint Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, as a Day of Solemn Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation and Her Leaders.