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I grew up in a day and age when we would start every school day the same exact way. In each separate classroom of our public elementary school, the teachers followed the same routine. The class was called to attention; we would stand facing the American flag which was usually hung at the front of the classroom. We children stood, with right hands over our little hearts and recite:
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
That was then, this is not so much now. Then, I never heard anyone complain about the use of God’s name in the pledge or on our money. Now, I hear people complain about it all the time. Honestly, I am not even sure if The Pledge of Allegiance is allowed in a public school, let alone the phrase, “One Nation Under God.”
One nation under God … One Nation Under God … This phrase, said more like a heartfelt whisper of prayer has been rolling around in my head and heart all week.
Tweet ThisIt began when we started the preparations of readying the outdoors for our family and friends to arrive in celebration of July 4th. Living on a lake has its perks: The view is beautiful, and serene, but the upkeep demands time and effort. For summer, on my front porch I have a wooden sign, that is a flag with the phrase: “One Nation Under God,” painted on it. I picked it up a few years ago during a Christmas Bazaar of all things. When I saw it in the booth, I was drawn to it, the man had others without the phrase on it, but I wanted one with the words.
To me, and all who come to my door it is a visual reminder of what I believe to be true. I believe in God, and I believe this nation is under the protection of God. It’s a reminder to humble myself and pray.
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 (2 Chronicles 7:14).
It’s a reminder for me to pray for God’s Favor and His mercy upon us all. It’s a reminder that no matter who is the ruling authority that God is where I look.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1 NIV).
It’s also a reminder to pray for:
Our Nation
Our President
Our Government Officials
Our Freedom
Our Men & Women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms
But it’s a reminder of so much more than all those. The 2 Chronicles 7:14 Scripture is often brought to the forefront when things in a nation aren’t going great or in political seasons as a reminder for God’s people to prayer for nations and leaders. Yet it is so much more than that.
As you read 2 Chronicles 7, it begins with Solomon’s dedication prayer for the temple and ends with a visitation from God.
When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying:
“For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3 ESV)
When the words: “One Nation Under God” comes to mind, 2 Chronicles is what I feel in my heart God longs for us to experience as well. He longs for our hearts to turn towards Him, no matter what is going on in the world.
He longs for us to pray and seek Him.
He longs for us to invite Him to invade our temples with His Glory.
He longs for us to worship Him, proclaiming:
“He is good, and His mercy endures forever.”
He longs for us to give Him our hearts and permission to consume all we are. I believe when we do these things, it positions us to receive from God. God longs to respond to our heartfelt prayers. He hears our cries. He wants to send His Glory to us, just as He did with Solomon.
The Lord Appears to Solomon
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there (2 Chronicles 7: 11-16 NIV).
Scripture tells us that our bodies are a temple for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell. When His Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our hearts, there is freedom. He wants us to each celebrate and live the life He has always had in mind for us.
May our prayer this 4th of July be for us as individuals to experience the true freedom that is found in Jesus. It is then that we as a Nation will truly understand and experience the fullness of: One Nation Under God!
May the cry of our hearts be the lyrics from When you walk into the Room by Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Come and consume, God
All we are
We give you permission
Our hearts are Yours
We want You
We want You
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
I have been teaching these classes internationally for the last 10+ years equipping and training believers in discerning the Ways God speaks. God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
2. My new membership site, d2htrainging.com has official opened, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “Will You Sit with Me?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Whoa! Cue the Sousa marches and fire up the barbecue! This is one beautifully patriotic post, my friend! As a citizen of THE Kingdom and of the USA, Happy Independence Day to you!
Hahaha – Thanks Michele so glad you enjoyed today’s post. Happy Independence Day to you as well.
I feel your pain regarding the upkeep of a lake house. So why am I shopping for lake property again? Must be crazy but the feeling of being a lake girl has never left me! Love the porch sign and the fact that We. Are. Free.
Blessings friend,
Patti
I knew you would feel my pain – but truthfully, the work is worth the view, that is why you are shopping for lake property. You can take the girl away from the lake, but the lake never leaves the girl… LOL or something like that. Blessings and Happy 4th to you and Happy Birthday to Kelly! Miss you
We are blessed to be free in Christ and live in a free country!
Yes my friend, we truly are! #Blessed
As always, thanks for the great link up! Born on July 4th, I have always loved patriotic things. I LOVE how you used it to talk about our freedom as a Christian. Such a great devotion! Thanks!!
Thank you Sandy. I am so glad to have you linking up each week, and you are welcome for the post, I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Have an awesome 4th
Love your sign and heart!
thanks Sue 🙂
One word: AMEN!
Have a safe and happy 4th!
Thank you Jas. and Happy 4th to you and your family as well. 🙂
I’m a public school teacher and yes we still say the pledge to the American flag as well as the pledge to the Texas flag every morning.
As always, love your posts! Have a blessed 4th!
Roseann – That is so good to know, but I would have expected that to be the case in Texas for sure…. I do wonder if all the other states do so as well? hmmm so wonderful to think that they might still show patriotism to our country that way. I am very happy to hear you enjoyed today’s post, as well as the others I have done. Thank you for your kind words, that made my day reading them. Blessings on your 4th as well.
The flag sign is beautifully done. We definitely need reminders to pray for God’s mercy on us all! I love the song “When You Walk into the Room” – it moves me every time we sing it.
Thanks Lisa, I am partial to it too. I often need reminders to pray for things, especially for Gods mercy on our country. I love the song as well, each verse is power packed and as I was writing the post yesterday the bridge was playing in my head over and over again, so I knew I needed to include it. Blessings to you.
I cannot pledge allegiance to the flag and usually don’t but I’m grateful for where God has placed me. My only allegiance is to God and what he has done for me. As I can’t have dual allegiance, this is how it will remain for me.
Nylse – I understand completely what you are saying. … and the story I shared, hope it was more about the lack of patriotism in America today, and a respect that our country was founded with a Godly foundation and principles, where people were not ashamed to speak the name of God. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me today in the comments and for linking up as well. Enjoy your weekend
Godly foundation? I really question that.
Thank you for sharing the context of the “If my people pray” verse! He truly does want to bring freedom to the hearts of the people in our land. What a perfect prayer for a “Happy 4th of July!” Blessings to you!
Bettie – you are most welcome. Truthfully, it didn’t dawn on me until this week when I was writing the post. I love how God opens my eyes to see something new and different even though I have read this passage of Scripture many, many times before. I am so very grateful that God wants to bring freedom to all our hearts and our land as well. Many Blessings to you 🙂
Beautiful post! Our nation would be in a much better place if we returned to His Word for guidance.
Love the graphics and the reminder to pray for those you listed.
Thank you Julie! Yes, our nation would be a better place for sure. I always say, His Word is True North – our compass – we need to look to it and rely on it, for it will never fail. Thank you too about the graphics, I think they turned out great as well. 🙂
Thank you for hosting. Have a lovely week!
you are most welcome Marilyn – thanks for stopping by. You have a terrific week as well.
As someone who loves the 4th of July and everything patriotic, I really enjoyed your post. And I love that sign. I definitely would have picked the same one! Happy 4th my friend!
Thank you Donna, I thought the sign was an excellent choice too! I am glad you enjoyed the post, especially since you enjoy all things patriotic! Have fun celebrating tomorrow.
Times have changed and I think that people care more about the partying than the actual experiment of this country that our framers wanted.
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July.
Yes Patrick, I couldn’t agree more. We have definitely drifted away from those things… and yes, sadly you are right, parting seems to be the top of the reasons for some. Thanks for linkup this week and you too have a wonderful, safe 4th
Beautiful! I love the 4th of July. I love all of your pictures and your wise words. Thank you for the reminder to pray on the 4th.
Thank you Maree! I enjoy the 4th too – there’s just something about those fireworks, sparkling up the night sky. 🙂 the sounds and big booms I could definitely do with out, but I do endure for the sparkles and pretties. 🙂