As America stands in the balance for her future, her purpose, and existence, it behooves us to be reminded on this National Day of Prayer, of the price that brought this nation into existence. The first and most vital thing to the success along with the zeal, determination, valor, and willingness to fight for what was right, was the fact that our founders were serious men of faith and prayer.
John Adams, who was the 2nd president of the United States, wrote to his wife Abigail on June 21st, 1776. In that letter, as they were praying, debating, and working on the principle of the Declaration of Independence Adams stated; “Statesmen, my dear sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure, than they have now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain lasting liberty”. He stated that without faith, and faith in abundance, this freedom would not last.
Samuel Adams who called for the first continental congress, and was a signer of the declaration of Independence declared about prayer; “I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world” … “That the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace”.
It’s amazing how our founders chased after the heart of God. They understood the price that was needed to bring this nation into being and were will to lay their lives down for its birthing. They could look forward to the days where their posterity was able to enjoy the blessing of the price they were willing to pay. On their knees they were. Day after day they chased heaven down and sought the Lord as to the directions they needed to take to see this noblest cause through to the end. Nowhere in any of their words or declarations did they ever believe that there should be a separation of church and state. They were men of faith and prayer.
In July of 1861, after the Union Army was defeated at the Battle of Bull Run, President Abraham Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday, September, 26, as a National Day of Prayer and fasting. He stated; “It is fit and becoming in all people, that at times to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God; to bow in humble submission to His chastisement; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to pray, with all fervency and contrition for the pardon of their past offenses, and the blessing upon their present”.
As we look today at the state of this nation, we can only conclude that our founders were correct in stating that the only way to prosper and stay strong as a republic, was to stay strong in faith and to remain on our faces before God in prayer and intercession. This nation is in desperate need of a great move of God for its redemption. It will only come to pass by great prayer and intercession. It has always been our responsibility to do just that. Today is the National Day of Prayer. Let’s not miss the chance to take the time to implore heaven on behalf of not only this nation but also this generation. Our kids stand in the balance, and we must stand in the balance for our kids, their freedom, their future, and the future of this great nation. We need to remain one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
God Bless the United States of America.
