Pray for the USA

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

While driving, I usually listen to talk radio on AM and driving my boys around to their weekend activities on Saturday was no exception to start with. However, predominant themes of national debt, constitutional sidestepping, and general political dishonesty brought about an unusual despair and frustration. I racked my brain but couldn’t see a way out of our national mess and ultimately began scanning the FM dial for some music to regain my sanity.

I’m a few years behind on my country music, so when I rolled across a weekly country countdown, I decided to catch up. Featured on the program was a song titled “Love Like Crazy” by Lee Brice, both unfamiliar to me. A line in the song’s chorus seized my attention:

“Never let your prayin' knees get lazy”.

These lyrics made me wonder whether or not Americans are engaged sufficiently in prayer and supplication for the Almighty to intervene and help us fix our problems. I had to admit that although I personally pray often, I do not often (enough) pray for my country, its leaders and its citizens. I wondered if across the board, god-fearing patriots are not pouring their hearts out sufficiently to bring down the blessings of heaven so needed by our nation.

I recalled how the miracle that was the creation of our constitution only occurred after our founding fathers sought divine intervention to overcome irreconcilable interests. Benjamin Franklin urged them to so humbly petition thusly:

“Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

“I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.”

History attests that shortly afterwards, the founders’ “irreconcilable” interests were reconciled, dramatically highlighting the limitations of men who’s “prayin’ knees [are] lazy” and the contrasting power of prayer.

I suspect that what our country needs is more prayer.

Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: