Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Praying for peace in America is everyone’s responsibility but particularly so for every believer in Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. The world is pretty chaotic right now and since so much of what goes on in the world is impacted by America and in turn America is impacted by everything in every corner of the globe, we must pray.

During the 2016 presidential election campaign there were many slogans to rally support for each party. The successful party emerged under the most prominent slogan “Make America Great Again”. Of course we all want that! But it begs the question: If America is not considered great now, what was different when it was considered great? There are many approaches to this question and I believe every individual will have a different perspective. Some might even contend that you are out of your mind because America is still the greatest country on earth.

I am going to take the Scriptural approach exemplified in the Bible verse quoted above. I decided to check a number of current translations and found this in the New Life Version (NLV): “Being right with God makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people.”  Considering the current divisive climate, it seems we have some retracing of our steps to do and the Word of God gives us the blueprint: “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  (II Chronicles 7:14).

I live in a unique neighborhood in New York and I often walk the streets for exercise. On any of those walks it is possible to stand at an intersection and count as many as four churches within sight. The presence of multiple houses of worship is very likely duplicated in many of America’s cities and towns and suggests that there was a time in America when people placed an emphasis on honoring Almighty God. Can we do that again? God is the source of all wisdom and knowledge and “greatness” and he is also in charge of time and eternity. It seems then that if we are in search of greatness, we should be on our knees asking him to forgive us and show us the way ahead.