If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.
-- II Chronicles 7:14
Help us in our call to all of the Christians in America to prayer for our homeland in the following areas:
A Call to Prayer
"I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States
military have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me. If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else. After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death
at the hands of Sadam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion? They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go. No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the
fact that this country has been forced into war - innocent people have lost their lives - and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, husband, or even worse my own son. On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor. On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen -underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return. When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship - where were the human shields then? If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield
the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets. If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!
Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave
men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all -- "What greater love hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country. We should give our military honor and acknowledgment and not let their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human shield - they were human shields. I thank God tonight for freedom - those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past - those who will protect it in the present and defend it in the future. America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long! We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold. After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven-year-old son said "Terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of us, then you're one of them." So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families and our country. May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth!"
-Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman
"Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness, and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says 'Woe unto those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium, reversed our values. We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word, and called it 'Pluralism.' We have worshiped other gods and called it 'Multi-Culturalism.' We have endorsed perversion, and called it 'Alternate Lifestyle.' We have neglected the needy, and called it 'Self-Preservation.' We have rewarded laziness, and called it 'Welfare.' We have killed our unborn, and called it 'Choice.' We have shot abortionists, and called it 'Justifiable.' We have neglected to discipline our children, and called it 'Building Self-Esteem.' We have abused power, and called it 'Political Savvy.' We have coveted or neighbors possessions, and called it 'Ambition.' We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography, and called it 'Freedom of Expression.' We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers, and called it 'Enlightenment.' Search us o God and know our hearts today, cleanse us from every sin, and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will. I ask in the name of Your Son, the Living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."
-minister Joe Wright opening the Kansas State Legislature
Our Father and Our God, We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know that all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation's leaders. Give them the wisdom to what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as Savior and Lord. This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.
-Billy Graham for the National Day of Prayer