Pray for America

“Then if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

An American believer was visiting China and he found a small Christian bookstore tucked away on an upper floor of an old building. As he perused their books he also found a section of miscellaneous things including a refrigerator magnet that said: “Pray for America.”

Ron Hutchcraft wrote: “If you’re an American Christian, you probably think of China as a place we need to pray for – and it is. But in China, apparently, they think they need to pray for us, and indeed they do. Their faith is passionate there; ours is often so casual, so powerless. What for Chinese believers is a passion is for too many of us a profession, a bunch of religious activities or a religious business.

We have so much, and yet in terms of spiritual power and passion, some think we seem to have so little. They have so little and yet, in many ways, they have so much. I’m glad and I’m humbled that they’re praying for us.”

In this election year we’re so prone to believe if we elect the right people our nation will get back on track, but it’s not the politicians who will get our once great land back on track. It’s you and me who love Jesus and are willing to humble ourselves before God and pray, not just “say prayers,” but let our heart ache for our need of God to do what only He can do – in, and on our behalf.

America wasn’t great because of our buildings, businesses, and bustling cities, it was great because we were once dependent upon a great God. We can blame everyone else for prayer and God’s Word, being taken not only out of our schools, but out of our hearts, but we have no one to blame but ourselves. As Americans we no longer have a backbone or the courage to stand for what is right.

We elect politicians whom we believe will make things better for us, give us better healthcare, or secure for us better wages. Our favorite radio station is still WIIFM – “What’s In It For Me!” Until we stop looking out for “me” and start looking out for “US,” it’s only going to get worse. And by “us” I’m not thinking only of our fellow Americans, but our fellow Jesus followers.

Nothing will ever change for the better without prayer, followed by courageous living based not on how we feel about ourselves or anything else, but solely dependent upon a move of God to change us from the inside out. Our nation doesn’t have a chance to be anything but what it is until the Church takes a stand for what is good and right.

Until we’re ready to humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of Almighty God, and turn from our wicked ways, there will be no restoration of our land. Restoration of “lands” follows restoration of God’s people. We can’t have one without the other.

So, where will it begin? First, in my heart and yours, in my family and yours, in my church and yours. Please, we must pray for an unprecedented move of God, for nothing of significance will ever happen without the Lord.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊