Prayer is the “P” in R.E.C.I.P.E.
Since even before our founding, we have always been a nation of prayer. Our forefathers understood that prayer was key to wisdom and God’s blessing. During our Constitutional Convention in 1787, when it seemed impossible to bring together all the different interests and it looked like the whole effort to come up with a new constitution was about to fall apart, Benjamin Franklin made a statement that is eerily applicable to us today as we attempt to restore our Constitutional Republic that has fallen under significant attack…
“…How has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding? In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor… And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?”
Benjamin Franklin
EVEN THE “LEAST RELIGIOUS” HAD A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
I find it interesting that Benjamin Franklin, who is commonly known as one of the least religious of the founding fathers, asserted that when they had declared independence, they had daily prayers for Divine protection, and not only did they pray daily, but their prayers were answered! Mr. Franklin noted the God of Heaven had moved on their behalf in the struggle with Great Britain. Prayer is not a vain activity. Prayer, for some reason I don’t fully understand, results in the very God of Heaven moving. Charles Spurgeon said, “Prayer is the slender nerve that moveth the muscles of omnipotence”. That seems like a vivid description to me because my prayer seems so small and insignificant. However, to the extent that God moves as a result of my prayer, that makes my prayers huge! The founders of our nation knew well that prayer was of critical importance.
“Prayer is the slender nerve that moveth the muscles of omnipotence.”
Charles Spurgeon
A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
Like no other country on earth, the early years of our nation were literally filled with proclamations of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving by colonial, state and federal officials. There is no shortage of these stories, and copies of the proclamation documents we could use as examples, and we will tell many of those stories as part of the encouragement step of the recipe. It is amazing, and quite encouraging, to see the hand of God move on behalf of the American people over and over again. But did you know that as recently as World War II, the President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, led the nation in prayer on June 6, 1944 for the soldiers storming the beaches on D-day? I typically do not find myself being a fan of FDR or wanting to quote him. However, at that critical time, President Roosevelt prayed with the nation.
“Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph… And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President Roosevelt encouraged Americans to have faith in God, and encouraged them to exist in a state of regular prayer for those fighting the war. Do we now think that today, while we once again face the destruction of our nation – this time to a more domestic, but equally dangerous, enemy – that it would be wise to attempt that struggle for restoration without once again turning to God and asking for His hand to intervene on our behalf? What an arrogant thought! In recent years, lies have been told to Americans that we do not have a Christian heritage, that our success as a nation is more attributable to our being a secular nation rather than a Christian one. We cannot continue to embrace these lies. We must return to the original design of our nation! We must return to being a praying people, a praying nation!
A NATION OF PRAYER
We don’t have to have armies storming beaches to pray for our nation. God’s Word is clear, we should be a people of prayer, and we pray for those in authority so that we may live a quiet and peaceable life.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”
1 Timothy 2:1-4
In America, if we take time to consider our true history, we will find that prayer was key to our independence, and winning the subsequent war with Great Britain. Prayer was key to the successful ratification of our constitution. Prayer was key to hundreds of other times in our wars and even other parts of our history when God noticeably worked on behalf of His people who called out to Him. When Americans find themselves facing potential destruction, historically, our forefathers have turned to God in prayer. This is something we need to do now! Let’s learn from the example of those Americans who went before us and take these things to God in prayer!
1 Timothy 2 is a great resource for understanding the lines of communication with God are always open. We sometimes forget to access our loving God. He desires for us to prioritize righteaousness in our lives. God bless the United States of America.
Amen! How crazy to think we have that ability to communicate with God but (at least for me) tend to use it so much less than I should. Thank you for the comment!
These words from the blog sure do apply to how we humanly feel about our own prayers and thoughts-
“Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?” “Prayer is the slender nerve that moveth the muscles of omnipotence”. That seems like a vivid description to me because my prayer seems so small and insignificant. ”
But what an encouragement comes in these thoughts-
“However, to the extent that God moves as a result of my prayer, that makes my prayers huge! ”
What the Founders knew, we need to take to heart as well!
“The founders of our nation knew well that prayer was of critical importance.
May we return-
“We must return to the original design of our nation!”
“We must return to being a praying people, a praying nation!” Amen!!!
Thank you for your kind words and for commenting. Yes, I don’t fully understand why God, who created heaven and earth, and knows everything, would ask me to bring things up to His attention through prayers. But He does! Then it becomes amazing to see Him move. I do pray America will turn away from our national sins and turn back to God. Then I pray He will move on behalf of our nation and restore us again. Thank you again for your comment!
Prayer is a power tool, a battle cry, heart refresh, rejoicing Anthem, praise report, truth testament; our starting words, conversation trusting guide to our next steps. Our faithful focus that completes us to walk in designed purpose, as He forever blesses us.
We moved, we allowed the few to push us in a corner while knowing His power. All the while, He waits and sees all our broken, greedy, evil and deceived. He also sees the generations that do not know Him because our true history has taken from them and replaced with distorted facts and lies. Therefore, I continue to pray, first in repentance, taking a stand, rejoicing in His Glory, knowing, In GOD WE Trust is echoing. He hears, he’s watching and sees us taking a stand. Our prayers continue – The battle is His. The Revival will be ours – to HIS Glory. Amen
Wow – Yes, maam. Amen. In the Scriptures I have been reading lately, I am often reminded this fight is the Lord’s. If He chooses, it would be a small thing for Him to grant us victory and save this nation. If He does not choose to do that, however, it is important for us to have been faithful doing our duty. Prayer is critically important in whatever role we find ourselves in! Thank you so much for your comment!
My prayer partner and I have been praying for revival since2020. One day, recently, I was beginning to feel despondent, a bit overwhelmed by the evil in this worls on so may levels. (Also I had just seen “Sound of Freedom.”) I prayed again.
Suddenly my mind was filled with remembrances; Roe v. Wade 2022 (returned to States), increased presence of Pro-life advocates at abortion clinics, more pro-life clinics than abortion clinics, parents pushing back against CRT and LGBTQAI initiatives in schools, State legislatures curtailing liberal access to abortions, States abolishing racist and perverted instruction in classrooms, transgender ideologies, and the recent Supreme Court decisions against affirmative action, and religious freedm and accommodations.
My spirited lifted! God reminded me that He is always at work and that He stands behind 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Amen! I agree God is moving! Even a few years ago, I would have thought there was no way Roe vs Wade would have been overthrown in my lifetime. Thank you Lord! It is great to see some of these results coming together, but it is also important to remember that we do our duty and leave the results to Him. Thank you for your comment!
A famous quote of Ronald Reagan – “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction” – is in one way a restatement of the main point of the speech that Ben Franklin gave at a crucial moment in the writing of the Constitution that you opened with. It had not yet even been a generation since the declaration of Independence and the founding fathers had already begun to neglect the divine inspiration behind the decision to declare freedom from Great Britain.
So true are those words penned by President Reagan. Let us not forget that it is us, each of us, right here and right now, who must determine if we will be the generation that allows freedom to lapse into extinction.
Yes sir… There were 11 years between the Declaration and the Constitutional Convention, so, although they were eventful years, it didn’t take long for the nation to start drifting… I love the Reagan quote you mentioned! May it not be our generation that lets freedom go extinct. May it not be my children’s generation either! As Rick Green says, let’s make sure the Torch of Freedom is burning brightly when we hand it off to the next generation! Thank you for your comment!
Prayer is so important in everything that we do. It helps us get closer to God and have a better relationship with him. It also makes you feel comforted when you know you can ask God for help and you know he is there. Thank you so much for this blog it was very good and had some very helpful reminders and tips!
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, amen, we can ask God for help and know that He hears us. What an amazing encouragement! Thank you for your comment!
Prayer is key to every Christians relationship with God. Sometimes we do not think God can hear us, or even wants us to pray to him, but sometimes God tests our faith in weird ways. He may be testing us to see if we will stay faithful to him and continue praying even if it is hard. Throughout all of history we read of many wars and hardships, however did it stop those faithful men and Women from Praying? NO! Prayer is like a start guide that will point us down the correct path, in which we must see the blessings God gives us and show him Glory! thank you for the powerful reminder that Without prayer and a right relationship with God, we would be broken!
Amen – yes, thank you for your comment! God is always working, and His word says He always works for our good (Rom 8:28). So, times of hardship are among the most important times to pray! I love the way you put it – without prayer and a right relationship with God, we would be broken. Thank you again!