Today the forty-sixth president of our country is inaugurated. The election and transition of power have been difficult for our nation. Issues divide our nation as never before and many do not support or accept the election results. So how do we once again become one nation under God?
Pray for our country
The Word tells us if “[God’s] people [who are called by [His] name humble themselves, and pray and seek [His] face, and turn from their wicked ways, then [God] will hear from heaven, and [God] will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). It is time to pray like we never have before.
In a sermon on prayer, one of our pastors shared that the biggest roadblock in Western Culture [to our spiritual growth] is the mindset of self-sufficiency and individualism. Our nation won’t be changed by protests, riots, angry rants, or poison pens. Only God can change our nation and our responsibility is first to humble ourselves in prayer.
Pray for our leaders
The Word instructs us to pray for our leaders in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”
It doesn’t matter who we voted for but it does matter that we commit to praying for our elected and appointed leaders. It is only through prayer that we find peace despite the political turmoil in our nation.
Turn toward God
We must take responsibility for our own actions, words, and attitudes. 2 Chronicles doesn’t just tell us to pray but to “turn from [our] wicked ways.” It is time to turn away from judgment and stirring up of strife against those that God has allowed to come to power. Instead, we need to turn our attitudes and anger over to God and let him work in our hearts and through our lives to sow peace and godliness in our communities, nation, and world.
Our trust cannot be in a country or a president. We must stand on the promises of God and His Word for our daily life and for our future personally and as a nation. As we recognize that our final home is not this world, we must choose to live in obedience to God in order to make it a better place.
Live in obedience to God
The Word is full of instructions for every part of our lives. But the “great commandment” is repeated across the Gospels: “You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). It’s time to commit ourselves to live out our love for the Lord through obedience to his calling and commands. And, it is time to commit to loving others as ourselves.
We will not agree with everyone we meet or with everyone that is in a position of leadership. But we can still choose to allow the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to guide our actions towards others.
I pray that our nation can again be called a nation under God. Thank you for letting me share my heart for home and country.
Blessings,
