Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation
I was at church a few weeks ago and ran across a paper that said-Billy Graham's Prayer for our nation.
This was a prayer that Graham made at the age of 95. He had a birthday this past November. In 95 years of living a person sees a lot of changes. The changes he's seen, and indeed all of us have seen if we've lived any time at all, should cause us to sit up and take notice. You don't have to be a news junkie to know that there is a lot of trouble brewing in this old world. Whether you want to be impacted or not, you will be. There's no hiding from the down hill slide that we seem to be on. Reverend Graham addresses that in this prayer for America that I would like to share with you.
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your word says, " Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have killed abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and set us free. Amen!
That's a pretty powerful prayer. Personally, I happen to agree with him in his observations. I think that we're going to have to take a stand. I feel like America is sinking rapidly, just like the sun in this picture. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but that's ok. I liked the way America was when I grew up. We weren't perfect; there was room for improvement, but given the state of the country today I'd say we were miles ahead of where we are now. I look at this country and wonder what my children and grandchildren will be facing, and frankly, from what I can see, it doesn't look too rosy. They're the ones who are going to have to take a stand. It's not going to be easy, but doing the right thing never is. There will always be opposition to doing what is right and good. If my father's generation hadn't taken a stand, the America I grew up in would have been a very different place. In any event, I've had on my mind to share this, and so I have. What you do with it is up to you. In the bible there is a scripture that says -God's word will not return to him void, but will accomplish that which He pleases and it shall prosper in the thing where He sent it. So be it Lord.
Very good blog dad. And what a prayer! Well said!
ReplyDeleteThanks Autumn. I always hesitate to put something like this out here. No doubt someone will read a different post and feel that I'm not sincere in my expressions here. I am. Like all people, I'm sometimes a saint and sometimes a sinner. Being a Christian is a lifelong exercise with peaks and valleys. What we can't afford to do is turn our backs on God and accept the status quo. We're in serious trouble in this country. As I've said before on more than one occasion,the law of sewing and reaping isn't just a scripture in the bible. You can't plant pineapples and grow peanuts. Thanks for writing.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, and none of us are perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughtful post, Tom. I was moved by Rev. Graham's prayer, and I agree with you that our country is, indeed, swirling the top of the toilet bowl. If we don't change our direction, I shudder to think what kind of world our kids will inherit. I must admit to you that I find it very difficult to pray for the government leading us, although prayer may be the only thing that will save us from this Administration. Okay, off my soapbox...let's hope for saner reason to prevail in 2014! Thanks for your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteHi Jill- I know where you're coming from. I have never been more unhappy with our government than over the past few years. However, that being said, we are directed to pray for those in power. Sometimes I fail to remember that it is God who puts people in power and it is He who will remove them when He wants. I need to recall that people do have a change of heart at times. I look at Charles Colson for example. Often times we need to go through something really unpleasant before we get the message though. Perhaps that's what we're facing now. I just hope things turn around soon. Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog dad and that prayer was AWESOME :).
ReplyDeleteLove you.
Thanks Camille- I'm glad that someone like Billy Graham has been around to get the word out. I think he is respected by a great number of people. The facts need to put out there for folks to decide what they believe in and I think he did it with that prayer. Love you too gal.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! It is hard to post things like that at times because you don't know how people will take it. I am sort of done with caring about what others think, if we don't stand up for what is right then we are just as wrong for not stepping up. Our government is very hard for me to love and pray for even though we are instructed to, we never know what our prayers are going to do though. In the spiritual realm we could be that one prayer to really turn things around. So, as hard as it is for me I will pray for them.
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ReplyDeleteHi Liz- I think we all kind of struggle with that, especially in these times. It seems as if the very people who are supposed to be representing us are the ones who are doing their best to keep us back. I think America has turned a corner in the wrong direction. It's happened all throughout history to various groups. We can turn back to God and receive his blessing again or we can keep on this path and go the route of the Roman Empire. It's up to us, but I think prayer will definitely make a difference. Thanks for commenting.
Great post..have no qualms prayin for our so called leadership...they Need it as much or more than us "normal citizens"...they're in control of much more than any of us can fathom n need prayers for direction n ears to hear n do the right thing...for a nation...not just congress n selves
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