We Need God in America Again
During the dark time in which we live, this song sung by Carmen Licciardello and written by Dominic Licciardello and Michael Omartian expresses the sentiment that I and, I believe many others, have felt and prayed for strongly lately. Just as it was true in the nineties when it was written, it is even more true now. The only hope for America is Jesus. We need God in America again. As recounted in this song, our founders relied on God and his word to build this country. They knew that the only way the United States could remain a beacon of freedom was if its citizens continued to fear God and abide by the morality contained within the Bible.
Compromise and Sin Extinguish Our Light
So many Christians and Christian assemblies have allowed compromise and sin to enter and dim or extinguish the light that should shine out of them and affect the culture around them. As a result, our schools have allowed devilish philosophies to creep in unopposed. The students educated by them have grown and filled places of government, as well as corporate and cultural institutions of all sorts with these philosophies. Each new policy they implement is worse than the one before it.
We Must Stand Up and Speak Out
The church must repent for its compromise and unwillingness to stand up for the truth of the Word of God. We must demonstrate holiness in action as I wrote about in this post. We must become uncompromising in our testimony and fervent in our prayers for this nation. We must pray that God gives us leaders after his own heart while taking down those who are corrupt and directly oppose the principles of his Word. Our voices and our votes should align with our prayers against people and policies that promote evil. The people of God don’t need violence because our witness and “The fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.” James 5:16
Why should we stand idly by while the blind lead the blind. Shouldn’t we want true Christians who pray for wisdom and direction from Jesus to rise to places of leadership throughout the country? John the Baptist spoke out against Herod’s sinful acts. Jesus was not silent about the hypocrisy and corruption of the Jewish leaders of his day. We can’t be silent about the corruption and anti-God policies in our churches, schools, governments, and institutions. We may call ourselves neutral and opposed to causing division, but are we really just afraid of the consequences of standing for truth? Truth divides those who will accept it from those who won’t, Even Jesus said in Luke 12:51 “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”
As the song says, “We need a new anointing of God’s power coming on us to boldly tell the world you must be saved. One nation under God is our demand.”
American History Filled With Evidence of Biblical Reliance
Even before the founders mentioned in the last song, the Pilgrims came to this land specifically for the freedom to worship God as they believed the Bible required. In fact, before the Pilgrims, the first permanent colony of Jamestown had a plaque of the salvation message of Acts 2:38 in their church. Scattered throughout our nation are scriptures, quotes, art, and engravings of or about the Bible, such as those of the 10 Commandments.
Before the First Continental Congress in 1774 when the founders began to form the Articles of Confederation initially used to establish the country’s government, they asked the minister, Jacob Duche, to pray. He prayed Psalm 35:1-4 “Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: Fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.” He then went on to pray extemporaneously. John Adams later recalled, ““I must confess that I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced. It filled the bosom of every man present.” From that time till now, a Congressional session has always started with a scripture reading and prayer.
Unfortunately, and possibly intentionally, this painting was taken down from display in Carpenter’s Hall where the event happened and lost by the overseers of the Independence National Historic Park Museum Collection in the late 1980’s. You can read more about this here. This and other proof of our Christian foundations has been challenged and diminished in recent years, but most remains.
Humble Ourselves, Pray, Seek God's Face, and Repent
We must, as people of God, humble ourselves as the scripture commands. We must repent of our compromise, cowardice, lethargy, apathy, and sin that has hidden the truth and power of Jesus from a desperate and blind world. We must ask God to forgive and heal our land. If not, I can only imagine that what Jesus said about the unrepentant cities he went through, he will say about the USA if we don’t repent.
Matthew 11:20-24 “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
I will link below a few of the several songs based around 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “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.” God gave Solomen this promise after the dedication of the newly built temple. Just as God blessed Israel during Solomen’s reign, there is no doubt our country has been blessed and exalted throughout our history. We have known the Word, works, and blessings of the God of the universe. Israel faced judgement when they turned away from God. We must repent lest our judgment is finalized.
If My People Will Pray
If My People Will Pray
If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, shall humble themselves and pray
If my people which are called by my name shall seek my face and turn from their wicked ways
Then will I hear from heaven. Then will I hear from heaven. Then will I hear and will forgive, Forgive their sin
If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves. Shall humble themselves and pray
I will forgive their sin, I will forgive their sin. I will forgive their sin. And heal their land
If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves. Shall humble themselves. Shall humble themselves and pray
If My People Will Pray ·℗ 1974 The Imperials on Follow the Man With the Music
Heal Our Land
Heal Our Land (Song For The National Day Of Prayer) · by Michael Card Joy In The Journey
Forgive oh Lord and heal our land and give us eyes to seek your face and hearts to understand that you alone make all things new and the blessings of the land we love are really gifts from You.
If my people will humbly pray and seek My face and turn away from all their wicked ways then I will hear them and move my hand and freely then will I forgive and I will heal their land
Unite our hearts in one accord and make us hungry for Your peace and burdened for the poor and grant us hope that we might see the future for the land we love our life our liberty
If My people will humbly pray and seek My face and turn away from all their wicked ways. Then I will hear them and move my hand and freely then will I forgive and I will heal their land (x2)
And I will heal their land.
Heal Our Land by Wesley Putnam
Lord we humbly pray, heal our land. In this evil day we cannot stand unless you hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land. Please, heal our land.
The storm clouds have gathered. The thunder is deafening. Where can we go for refuge when we’re afraid? Help us remember the God of our Fathers. You were their strength and shelter against the rain.
We have a new vision now burning within us— A nation whose heart is blazing with love for the Lord. He will renew us and pour out His blessing. We’ll never lose hope! Remember, He’s done it before.
Pray that God Bless America the Beautiful
Please join me in prayer for our nation. Comment to share any special direction or burden from God you’ve felt in your prayers. I would like to end with these two traditional patriotic songs. They each name some of the blessings of God on this country, give thanks for them, and ask that they continue. May God mercifully continue to bless this beautiful country he’s given us. May He return us to our Christian foundations so we can fulfill our purpose of being a light and blessing in these end times. Jesus can break every chain as this post I wrote declares.
Jerry Stricklin
You hit that ball right out of the park. ONLY GOD can save this prodigal of a country, that has wasted his FATHER’S blessings in riotous living. Now that he is eating with the pigs, MAYBE he will return to his FATHER before it’s too late.
Tina l Rosario
Beautiful 😍