Sunday Prayer | Praying for Unity: One Nation, Under God

As a newly minted American, I am disturbed by the divisive political rhetoric overwhelming much of our National conversation. America has always been a melting pot of beliefs, cultures, and ideas. The USA is a land of opportunity and harbinger of innovation. These are the ingredients that forged the concept of American exceptionalism.

Born out of the American Revolution in the 1770s, the USA emerged as a new nation heralding a fresh and distinguishing ideology. Recent events, like the current President’s “speech to the nation,” paint a very dystopian and dysfunctional view of America.

In the mid-1800s, the greatest nation on Earth found itself embroiled in civil war that pit brother against brother. The costs of this type of war seem to have faded from our national collective memory banks as people on both sides of the divide ramp up the talk of a pending civil war. This seems CRAZY to me!

Are we really that divided as a whole or is the cacophony of noise resounding in our ears emanating from a few clanging cymbals seeking individual self-gain? Think about it…how is “Build Back Better” really saying something different than “Make America Great Again”? (asking for a friend)

And our growing divide doesn’t seem to reside only in the dark, murky waters of politics, but also in our churches, neighborhoods, as well as in our long-confirmed definitions of gender and sexuality.

What I know is that the idea of one American shedding blood against another American—that is what civil war is—cannot be accepted and must be wholeheartedly disavowed. We simply cannot allow our elected politicians to lead us down this path. Who benefits? What is there to gain?

Being an American comes with rights and responsibilities, as does being a Christian (or any person of faith), a neighbor, a friend, a spouse, a parent——a human being sharing a planet with other human beings. War and bloodshed can not be the answer to settling our American family differences. It just can’t.

I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided.

Abraham Lincoln, June 16, 1858, A House Divided

The COVID pandemic has created tremendous upheaval. That is no more evident than it is in our churches, many who are struggling as a result. It turns out, people discovered alternatives that supplanted their Sunday morning church attendance.

Yes, dear reader, there is lots for us to pray for and about. Thankfully, our God is faithful if we are willing.

Therefore, I encourage you to join me in praying for our nation —the United States—- during this week and for the remainder of September. I ask that you also pray for both the local and universal church. These are difficult times filled with numerous challenges. Through it all, we need to remember that we the people are one nation, under God, indivisible with Liberty and justice for all.

---

My Sunday Prayer for Unity

Dear God, our Heavenly Father, and Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and Holy Spirit, our Great Counselor, thank You for the blessing of opportunity, blessing, and freedom of this great nation we call America.

Please hear our collective cries and pleas for a renewed spirit of peace and unity to overtake our nation. May we once again be able to express diverse and opposing ideas without deepening the divide among this Land and amongst Your people.

You created this nation to be a beacon—a shining light emanating from a hill—-calling the dismayed, disheartened, and displaced to its shores. Here, in this Land, exists opportunity and hope, symbolic of Your love for us through Your son, Jesus Christ. For that, we are grateful.

In this Land, we celebrate freedom—Liberty and Justice for all. This place, this Land, is a refuge for those who seek to come in from the cold and dark evils that lay in wait, ready to consume and devour optimism, tranquility, and hope.

May we return to our houses of worship Lord, to pay homage to You, for all the gifts and blessings You have provided.

In the Name of Your son, Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever and ever. Amen.

---

My dear reader and follower of this blog—know that I am grateful and thankful for you. Your likes and comments provide me with great joy and encouragement.

I hope you will join me in praying. Lord knows, our nation—and the world—need our prayers.

Until next my next post—-May the Lord, our God, bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

The Devotional Guy™