PHOTO: Library of Congress.
Prayers are as natural as conversation and those who have discovered this have lives that are more peaceful and accepting of circumstance and of the people around them.
But what of a nation? Can a country function as an organism? Scripture says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is The Lord.”
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It appears that nations can have a conversation with God and it would be best if its leaders were the first to recognize this relationship…
Eighty year-old Ben Franklin stood up on July 28,1787 after five weeks of cantankerous arguments over The Constitution by The Continental Congress. He reprimanded the group for forgetting the benefactor and “friend” of the new republic.
“I have lived, Sir, a long time,” said Franklin, “and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?…I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.”
Mr. Hamilton and others interjected and delayed the vote. Whether purposely or not, the motion was not voted on.
May it be that on the eve of the National Day of Prayer that such wisdom be heeded and that no interjections or objections stand in the way of begging forgiveness of and favor from our faithful, omnipotent “friend.”
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: America’s history is a long series of portals opened up by God. May we hear not just a personal, but a corporate, “Amen!”
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…For the kingdom is the LORD'S And He rules over the nations…"He makes the nations great…but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
Psalm 33:12 NIV, Psalm 22:28 NASB, Job 12:23 NASB, Luke 24:21 NIV
COMMENTS:
What an incredible privilege we have Bob that we can go to God – the creator of the universe – and he will receive us into his throne room through our petitions and prayers! Thank God for the blood of Jesus which gives us this great privilege! May we never lose the wonder of it!
Frank Wray, Delmar, NY