A Prayer for the Nation
This weekend’s worship services will include Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 5 stating that we are the salt of the earth. In his book Daily Walk With God, Rev. Herman Gockel wrote in a devotion for July 4, “How desperately our nation needs the salt of Christian witness and action! Dishonesty, greed, profanity… and sins of sexual impurity are all about us. In concert with other God-fearing citizens we are to do all within our power to stay the spread of moral decay which threatens our land. Salt that is not applied is worthless. We are to pray, to speak, to work for the welfare of the land we love.” When did Pastor Gockel write that? 1982. Obviously, it’s still applicable today. Quite frankly, it could have been written by one of the early Church Fathers living in the Roman Empire.
A world filled with people not walking with Christ Jesus is a world filled with self-centered sin. One of the reasons our Lord still has us here on this earth is to show people what life in God’s Kingdom is like as we follow King Jesus, praising and worshiping Him as our Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil, but also seeking to emulate His way of life in our attitudes and actions. One way for us to do so is through prayer. As we celebrate our nation’s 249th birthday, I invite you to pray this Prayer for the Nation from our hymnal.
Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.