Praying For Our Nation
King Solomon as the Preacher once said, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NKJV)
I found that being a pastor and a patriot didn’t always mix well. Especially when I would stick my finger in the air and try to appease the establishment and status quo; when I thought about power, position, possession and prestige. Basically, when I stopped thinking of others first, I stopped being a patriot. That is the very essence of patriotism. When we consider the fact that love for country is love for those men and women within the country and their wellbeing, patriotism becomes part of what it means to love others. When I think about the gospel -- the love of God, loving my neighbor, living outside of my own needs and looking to the needs of others -- there is no conflict, there is only hope in the divine providence that has made our nation one of the greatest of all nations. When we look at our founding and foundation, we were and have always been a nation of Christians. We still are.
But we are in a crisis right now. Those who wish to do us harm have divided us in an attempt to get us to believe that we stand alone in our patriotism and that being a patriot is a minority view at best, or something bad, at worst.
King Solomon as the Preacher once said,
“That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:9, NKJV)
In preparing for this article, I looked at what past leaders and pastors have said when they were asked for an invocation or prayer or proclamation.
When it comes to politics, Frederick Douglas said,
“I have one great political idea. . . . That idea is an old one. It is widely and generally assented to; nevertheless, it is very generally trampled upon and disregarded. The best expression of it, I have found in the Bible. It is in substance, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; sin is a reproach to any people” [Proverbs 14:34]. This constitutes my politics – the negative and positive of my politics, and the whole of my politics. . . . I feel it my duty to do all in my power to infuse this idea into the public mind, that it may speedily be recognized and practiced upon by our people.” 1
Daniel Webster said,
“Impress upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective franchise is a social duty of as solemn a nature as man can be called to perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector is a trustee as well for others as himself and that every measure he supports has an important bearing on the interests of others as well as on his own. 2
Samuel Adams issued this proclamation of thanksgiving for April 2, 1795. Adams was the Governor of Massachusetts.
“To pray that the Light of the Gospel, and the rights of Conscience, may be continued to the people of United America; and that his Holy Word may be improved by them, so that the name of God may be exalted, and their own Liberty and Happiness secured.-That he would be graciously pleased to bless our Federal Government; that by a wise administration, it may be a sure guide and safe protection in national concerns, for the people who have established, and who support it—That He would continue to us the invaluable Blessings of Civil Liberty; guarding us against intestine commotions; and enabling the United States, in the exercise of such Governmental powers, as are devolved upon them, so that the honor and dignity of our Nation, upon the Sea and the Land, may be supported, and Peace with the other Powers of the World, upon safe and honorable terms, may be maintained.… And finally, that He would over-rule all the confusions that are in the Earth, of the speedy establishment of the Redeemer’s Kingdom, which consisteth in Righteousness and Peace.” 3
*“[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” 4
I read about how John Hancock, as the governor of Massachusetts, proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving in 1780, and gave thanks that,
“above all, in continuing to us the Enjoyment of the Gospel of Peace… and to cause the Knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the Earth.” 5
Bishop Rev. James Patterson in his sermon in Iowa in 1825 said,
“We should not as Churchmen be a whit behind any in our patriotism; teaching its lessons in our Sunday Schools, from our pulpits, in our every-day speech. The American idea should dispossess all other ideas so far as true politics, the common weal of the commonwealth, are concerned. The love of country will, if awakened, encouraged, and developed, dominate partisanship and make us better citizens and men. We need and we should countenance in this land no organizations […] associated for the furtherance of un-American purposes or ideas. We must recognize no flag but the Stars and Stripes.” 6
Thomas Paine, in a discourse given to the Society of Theophilanthropists on January 16, 1797, said the following:
“It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of Divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles. He can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.
When we examine an extraordinary piece of machinery, an astonishing pile of architecture, a well executed statue or a highly finished painting where life and action are imitated, and habit only prevents our mistaking a surface of light and shade for cubical solidity, our ideas are naturally led to think of the extensive genius and talents of the artist. When we study the elements of geometry, we think of Euclid. When we speak of gravitation, we think of Newton. How then is it, that when we study the works of God in the creation, we stop short, and do not think of God? It is from the error of the schools in having taught those subjects as accomplishments only, and thereby separated the study of them form the Being who is the author of them. . . .” 7
So, with that in mind, let’s pray for our nation on this Independence Day, 2023.
Father, we first want to thank you for your abounding grace, without which we would not be able to do anything, nor would we enjoy the liberties we so deeply hold and which simultaneously are in such danger, which is a constant among men. We need your providence and provision. We need your presence. You are more than worthy to be praised for all that you have done from our past to our future, you are good. Thank you for life, liberty and the ability to pursue happiness. Each of these comes only from you, flowing from the gospel of Jesus Christ, the great God and Savior, blessed forevermore.
We come before you like Daniel, who saw the wickedness of his own people and confessed their sins.
We know that, as a people, we have allowed wickedness to flourish for too long. We repent so that we might once again enjoy the fruit of liberty in this country.
Have mercy upon us because we know that without divine providence and divine peace, the nation for which blood has been spilled, both that of the soldier and that of Christ himself, will and shall perish from the earth. We rest in your love, because greater love does not exist accept that when a friend lays down his life for another.
We pray, as Samuel Adams once did, “that the Light of the Gospel, and the rights of Conscience, may be continued to the people of United America; and that his Holy Word may be improved by them, so that the name of God may be exalted, and their own Liberty and Happiness secured.”
Father, we know that as Bishop Patterson said, “The love of country will, if awakened, encouraged, and developed, dominate partisanship and make us better citizens and men.” We pray that you would awaken us. Transform us into citizens of heaven that are effectual citizens of earth and especially citizens of the United States of America. We desperately need you to grant us wisdom to understand the times that we might not only hear, but do what you have empowered us to do.
Father, bless our leaders who represent us well in the U.S. Senate and Congress, and please reach those who do not with the gospel or remove them from office in the next election as you see fit. Give us a godly president who will seek you in all decisions. Bless our local leaders from the mayor and city leaders to the governor and state leaders; let them be godly people who put the interests of the people above their own. Give us godly leaders. Remove the ones who stand in the way and are disruptive or outright wicked. We know you are the ultimate judge.
Father, set the captives free. Millions are coming to America from across the border. Some are coming to find a better life, others have nefarious reasons and deal in the buying and selling of human souls. It is a stain on our society. Our country’s leaders have legalized infanticide and now turn a blind-eye at the labor and sex trade. Those who bear your image are brutalized daily in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Where are those free people? Where are those brave people? Oh God, we are here. Let us be those brave souls. We stand in the gap. We will be your servants who make a difference. Here we are, send us. Hold those who are involved in the labor and sex slave trade accountable and set the captives free.
It is time to be salt and light and occupy until you come and take us home. We do not know when that will be, but we do know that it will be soon.
So let us do that which is right in your sight, knowing that you will accomplish your will in us, through us and in some cases, in spite of us. May you be glorified on this day of Independence, this day of freedom, this day of hope and celebration, this day of grace and goodness.
Thank you for all that you have done. Thank you for your abounding grace and your great love. Bless your people, wherever they may be. Burn a fire within us. You have empowered us. You have redeemed us. You have given us what we need. Now we need to go. Let us do what you have said and go.
God save the People of the United States.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen.
Frederick Douglass, The Frederick Douglass Papers, John Blassingame, editor (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1982), Vol. 2, p. 397, from a speech delivered at Ithaca, New York, October 14th, 1852. via: https://wallbuilders.com/importance-voting-christian-involvement-political-arena/
Daniel Webster, The Works of Daniel Webster (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1853), Vol. II, p. 108, from remarks made at a public reception by the ladies of Richmond, Virginia, on October 5, 1840. via https://wallbuilders.com/importance-voting-christian-involvement-political-arena/
William V. Wells, The Life and Public Service of Samuel Adams (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1865), Vol. I, p. 22, quoting from a political essay by Samuel Adams published in The Public Advertiser, 1749.
https://wallbuilders.com/thomas-paine-criticizes-current-public-school-science-curriculum/
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