Recently, a friend said in an email, “I believe in the First Amendment and the First Commandment.” Those words have resonated in my heart ever since.
First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First Commandment:
You shall have no other gods before Me.
© alswart / Dollar Photo Club
I was raised by a member of the “Greatest Generation.” My mom lived through the Great Depression and World War II. I was raised with a love of country and a belief in our constitution and the freedoms it protected. I was raised to honor God, too. But in my lifetime—and especially in the past twenty years—I have seen the First Amendment erode until it is almost non-existent and I have seen the First Commandment forgotten by the culture at large.
My heart breaks at times, but then I remember the First Century church in places like Rome and Corinth and Ephesus. Those cultures were in turmoil, too. The world is the world, but God is God. And so I pray:
Holy, holy, holy God. I lift up our nation before You. You have called Your church to love. You have also called Your church to speak truth, no matter what the culture around us says. You have called Your church to be holy as You are holy.
By the power of Your Spirit, guide us in the righteous path. You have called upon us to deny ourselves, to cast off the sin that so easily entangles us, to take up our crosses, and to follow You.
You have called us to purity, but our culture says things are okay that You say are not. Too often the church mirrors the world around us. Forgive us and cleanse us. Help us to be loving examples of living for God and not to please ourselves.
We are a nation and a world in chaos, Father. Have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Amen.
And finally I remember what Jesus promised:
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
~robin
Robin Lee Hatcher
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Thanks Robin! Beautiful words for today.
Thank you for giving me peace, today, and for reminding me to pray without ceasing.
I prayed your prayer this morning. We are a nation and world of chaos as you said. Thank you for your word of reminder and comfort.
Beautifully said, Robin. And thank you so much for writing out those precepts on which our nation and our faith were founded. It’s been a while since I read word-for-word how clearly our constitution states our rights and our freedoms. Thank you again for the reminders. Most of all, I’m thankful that He gave us the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) when we receive Him and believe on His name.
Great word Robin!
Amen!
Thank you, Robin, for this. So wonderfully expressed. In these days of current times, I find myself often fighting broken heartiness as I listen to the news and see what has happened to the good of our land. I, too, grew-up in the era of the Greatest Generation doing the parenting. I passionately love America and I have always been grateful that God placed me in here; I realized long ago what a blessing God gave me! We have never been a perfect country, but we were good! Nothing on earth is perfect. And, there is still a lot of good left. It seems we have strayed from our path. As you have so beautifully written this prayer, I am reminded that I need to trust more fully and pray without ceasing.
Amen. Thank you also for the prayer reminder!
So true Robin! I tear up when I see all that’s happening around me in the world. I cling to the knowledge that God is in control and nothing that happens slips by Him. As much as my heart hurts I cannot imagine how much God grieves.
Someday every knee will bow every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Amen here too, Robin. w all grieve. We know things are going to get darker. We have to be the light. Isaiah 60:1,2. That is right where we are.
This is one of the most on target articles I have ever read. So true and such a beautiful prayer thank you. Now if I can figure out how to share this on facebook…….
Amen ! Beautiful prayer.
I shared this on Facebook.
Thanks I needed that. We more than ever need God’s love and prayers.
Amen, Robin! Thanks for posting this. It’s a superb and gentle reminder.