A National Prayer

Pastor Gary Oser

On July 4th we celebrated the 250th birthday of our country. I feel blessed to live in a country where we have freedom and prosperity that so many people in our world do not have. When I think about our country and its future, a couple passages of Scripture come to mind.

Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Right living, living according to the stands of God’s Word, is what makes any country great. Sin, living contrary to the Word of God, Is a disgrace which will ultimately lead to God’s judgment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of sin currently going on in our country.

The other passage is a familiar one: 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If My people who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land” (KJV).

I know that these words were originally intended for Israel, but I believe they have application to other countries as well. I would have you noticed just a few things from the verse. First, it begins with God’s people. It clearly says, “If My people, who are called by My name.” It is followers of Jesus who need to do what the rest of the verse says.

First, we need to humble ourselves. To humble ourselves means not to be proud and self-centered. It means that we bow our wills to God’s will and surrender to Him. Second, we need to pray and seek God’s face. God will do things in answer to prayer that otherwise He will not do. James reminds us in James 5:16b that “the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Do you pray regularly for our country? Do you pray for our leaders to seek God rather than man’s wisdom?

Finally, we need to turn from our wicked ways. We need to acknowledge our sin and turn from it. Some of the things we need to turn from include self-sufficiency, taking the life of the unborn, immorality, greed and others.

If we will do the things God tells us, then He promises in the last words of the verse, “I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.” God will forgive us, His judgment may be averted, and He may continue to bless us.

As we continue to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, may we pray earnestly for genuine repentance for sin, for a seeking after God, and for righteousness to prevail over evil.