WATCH AND PRAY FOR AMERICA

By Charles Woodruff

Many in our day are perplexed about all the problems being faced by this once great nation. Incredibly high oil prices are driving up prices on food and many other commodities. Floods in the Midwest are also driving up corn and grain prices, displacing thousands from their homes and taking quite a few lives as well. Also, fires in California, continuing drought in the Southeast and other calamities. An increasingly liberal congress, and judges legislating from the bench (as in the infamous "gay marriage" case in California). On top of that we have the most liberal Democrat in history running against a maverick Republican that many conservatives do not trust very much. The future of the Supreme Court, congress and the military all seem to hang on this November's election. Does it really? Well, humanly speaking -- it does! But, there is a God who overrules the affairs of men. He raises up kings and those in authority (see Romans 13:1). Is all this that is happening His judgment on the once moral nation of the USA? We know in Psalm 9:17 He says "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God." We know that ancient Israel was judged in Isaiah's day as it is written: "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward" (Isaiah 1:4).This sounds like the United States of America! Remember, England and Canada also continue their downward slide!

What is the answer for our once proud and strong eagle nation? The same as for Israel of old. Please read the entire first chapter of Isaiah, and especially this verse: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). As we pray for our nation, it will do us good to ponder also 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." If the true Christians will do this, who can say God will not, according to His own sovereign will, turn things around? We are commanded by our Lord to pray for those in authority (see 1 Timothy 2:1-4). Let us pray for our land in this time of national elections after 232 years of independence as a nation. We have problems, but really there are no political answers! Those of us who are truly His, must not even attempt to be independent of God. In actual truth, nothing in the universe is independent of God! He has the only real answers for our nation in His sovereign Hand.

A MORNING PRAYER FROM THE FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.
Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind, and liberty of will serve thee, the ever lasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.
Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred; unite us all in praising and glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father, which art in heaven, etc, etc….
(William J. Johnson; George Washington, The Christian , New York: The Abingdon Press, 1919; from the paperback reprinted by Mott Media, Milford, Michigan, 1976).