From the very first presidential debates of the 2016 election, I have watched and prayed with an intense burden for our country’s future. My journey began with great anticipation and optimism; then it took many dips into dark valleys of foreboding. Throughout the year I led a prayer group, tried to inform others, engaged in healthy discussions, and wrote about the issues in hopes of playing a part in this process and searching for solutions to help America heal. Thankfully since January I’ve been able to look up from the news headlines and social media fodder to Franklin Graham’s parallel journey leading the Decision America Tour. Every time I saw images of thousands of Christians gathering with a common goal my heart lifted to the peaks where I could once again look out to the great unknown and inhale a deep breath of fresh air.

As I led my own humble prayer group in hopes of making a difference, Mr. Graham became a role model to me in a profound way. I remember growing up hearing about the Billy Graham rallies my parents and grandparents sometimes watched one television and they would recount stories of Billy’s boldness to call sin what it was and ask for people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So when Franklin Graham announced that he would hold prayer rallies in all 50 states encouraging people to pray, vote, and engage, I was elated. Maybe we both responded to a call from God for such a time as this? How badly I wanted to go to just one rally and be a part of the experience.

Thanks to social media, I caught updates on his tour to each capital in America that he led prayer rallies in week by week. From Japan to South Georgia I never missed pictures taken of prayer warriors in each state. Then before the Republican and Democratic Conventions I joined Franklin and thousands of other Christians in one accord to pray over the candidates, the conventions, and the American people. It feels lonely sometimes, trying to pray for something when you feel defeated; but every week I was reminded that I am not alone. There are many people who love this nation and are praying.

Then this week Franklin Graham announced that he would be making the last stop of the Decision America Tour in Raleigh, NC. The final rally would be broadcast live on Facebook and I wasn’t about to miss it! I opened the Facebook app a few minutes early and obsessively refreshed the page so that I wouldn’t miss the notification and I joined over 391,000 people on Facebook and however many thousand were in Raleigh this morning to pray for our country.

One of the first things Franklin Graham said was, “I have zero confidence in the Democratic Party! Now, before you Republicans start high fiving and doing back flips, I got news for you. I have zero confidence in the Republican party! My hope is in God!” I thought about some of my conversations as of late about lacking faith all the parties and these statements felt liberating. If enough Christians are trying to make a good decision and praying over it, that’s something to be hopeful about. He started by reading from Nehemiah 1:

Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Mr. Graham went on to explain that God heard Nehemiah’s prayer and gave him favor and soldier’s to protect him. He rebuilt the wall in only 52 days! That is miraculous (especially without modern technology!). Then Mr. Graham said, “I hear people say ‘Franklin it’s too late for America’. Oh really? Not if God gives His people His favor! It’s not too late if we pray and that’s what I want us to do today!”

So he facilitated a prayer time asking all the people in the crowd to hold hands and pray. He asked them to ask God for forgiveness for our country. They prayed a few minutes and then he asked them to pray for forgiveness in their personal lives (not out loud but in their hearts). Then he asked them to pray that God forgive the sins of their families from generations back to now. He led everyone in a prayer of humility and forgiveness. Then he talked about the good in public servants and how law enforcement in particular risks their lives to protect us. He asked that they pray for God to send his angels of protection to surround them. He asked them to pray for the leadership in their state. He led a closing prayer and then asked if they knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He explained that our hearts need to be right with God for the nation to heal. He prayed a prayer for those who wanted to accept the Lord and gave them a number to text “decision” so that they could receive more information about following God.

He spent the last few minutes of the rally discussing the action we should take as Christians. He encouraged believers to speak up and speak out even though people are sometimes offended when you aren’t politically correct. He said that his father urged people years ago that if they are qualified, Christians need to get involved in running for office. He said that our forefathers never intended for Christians to stay out of office, they just didn’t want state run religion. They wanted freedom of religion where we can live it everywhere we go and the government can’t stop us. Franklin told everyone that this election is about the Supreme Court and if Christians say “I just don’t think I can vote” he will say to them “Well hold your nose and go vote!” He said that we should care about who our next mayors and governors are and every other office. He urged Christians to vote for people we trust to protect our religious liberties!

As the live feed came to a close I allowed the scriptures I heard to revive the resolve in my heart. I re-read the passage and prayed once again. Maybe America’s walls are crumbling under the weight of our culture’s sins, but if we can humbly approach the throne of God with soft hearts, strong heads, and willing hands God can give us favor to rebuild the walls!

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.