America on Its Knees
“If my people humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
On January 25, 1968, the United States Congress, by a Joint Resolution of the 100th Congress, declared the first Thursday of each May to be recognized as a National Day of Prayer. Hence on this national holy day it is a good, time to reflect on prayer. One prayer which touches my soul was written by Mr. Hilton.Conrad Hilton (1887-1979), the founder of the Hilton Hotel chain, being a man of conviction during the fight against communism in the Cold War published this prayer on full page ads in major magazines on July 4, 1952.
Our Father in heaven.
We pray that you save us from ourselves.
This world that You have made for us, to live in peace, we have made into an armed camp. We live in fear of war to come. We are afraid of “the terror that flies by night, and the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness and the destruction that waste at noon-day.”
We have turned from You to go our selfish way. We have broken Your commandments and denies Your truth. We have left your altars to serve false gods of money and pleasure and power.
Forgive us and help us.
Now, darkness gathers around us, and we are confused in all our counsels. Losing faith in You, we lose faith in ourselves.
Inspire us with wisdom, all of us of every color, race and creed, to use our wealth, our strength to help our brother, instead of destroying him. Help us to do Your will as it is done in heaven and to be worthy of Your promise of peace on earth. Fill us with new faith, new strength and new courage, that we may win the Battle of Peace.
Be swift to save us, dear God, before the darkness falls.
When both Dwight D. Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan took the presidential oath of office, they put their hand on their family Bible with fingers resting on 2
Chronicles 7:14. It would be a blessing if you and I and all the world would put our heart and soul and mind on the ways of God for us and all of His creation.
Rev. Terry Rebert is Pastor of Historic Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa Lake, Mi. and weekly devotional writer of Words of Faith for Transformation Ministries.
Rev Terry Rebert, tjrdet@aol.com;
