Let’s Pray for America

Depending on your political leanings, the recent ushering-in of President Joseph Biden (and the exit of former President Donald Trump) finds you either delighted or dejected. Few are politically apathetic where the 2020 election is concerned.

Emotions have been high, with actions and attitudes following suit. Tempers have risen to a feverish pitch.

Many questions come to mind, as we consider the appropriate response for Christians:

• How can we engage in dialogue and discourse responsibly?
• Should we refuse to debate these issues?
• Should we keep our opinions to ourselves?
• What role are we to play in the democratic process?
• Do we have an obligation to influence others?
• How can we hold our elected officials accountable?
• Can we disagree without being disagreeable?

I love America.

Ours is a family who read the Declaration of Independence aloud on the 4^th of July, recited the Pledge of Allegiance as we began each school day, and all four children won no small amount of scholarship money for the patriotic speeches and essays they wrote for contests sponsored by veterans’ organizations.

I love America.

As I struggle with my role—and my responsibility—to jump into the fray and share my opinions, I am reminded of this quote from S.D. Gordon in Quiet Talks on Prayer:

“You can do more than pray after you have prayed,
but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”

How easy it is for us to say we will pray, truly intend to pray, but then fail to actually PRAY.

Today I am challenging you, as I challenge myself, to spend as much time praying as we spend posting. I am challenging all of us to talk to God about these issues before we talk to others.

To help jump-start this challenge, I’ve provided a free download highlighting five verses to consider as you pray. I have often found it helpful to pray God’s words back to Him when I struggle to find words of my own, and I suggest that you download and print these verses as a reminder to pray for our nation each day.

A few observations as we roll up our proverbial sleeves and prepare to get down on our knees:

1. Regardless of who is in the White House, what matters most is Who is on the throne.
2. We cannot blame unbelievers for behaving like unbelievers. How are we sharing the gospel, making disciples, teaching and living truth?
3. Let’s remind ourselves who was in charge politically when these verses were written!
4. Let’s be very careful about lining up behind one person and supporting that person unconditionally. Only one man was perfect—and Jesus is not running for office.
5. The eruption of violence in our nation’s capital serves as a sobering reminder that the preservation of our democratic republic is not a guarantee. Each generation renews our commitment to a peaceful transfer of power and to supporting the process. As Benjamin Franklin exited the Philadelphia Courthouse, he was asked by a colonial woman, “What kind of government have you given us, Mr. Franklin?” His response, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” Over two centuries later, the question is still critical: Can we keep it?

I hope you will download and print the PDF provided here, and join with me in praying for healing in our country, for our citizens to appreciate our freedoms, and for Revival to break out in the United States and beyond. How I long to see a Great Awakening in my lifetime. The Psalmist said it well:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
Psalm 27:13

(Click the image above—or HERE—to download this free PDF.)