God Please Bless our Land

I can remember sitting in church on Sunday mornings, singing this hymn out of my Granny's Hymnal. Some might recognize the tune is that of "My Country tis of Thee" - however the song was written 16 years prior by a man of the name of Siegfried A. Mahlmann. I bet his view of praying for the country wasn't much different than ours today.

Our prayers vary day to day. Those topics for prayer can range from illness, to financial needs or job related, marital matters, prodigals and the lost, peace in the world and many more subjects. But who sits there and really prays for our land - it's something I ponder about.

This hymn was written in 1815 and I wonder what Christians prayer life was like back then. James Madison would have been president, the War of 1812 was still ongoing, immigration of Amish, Irish and German settlers was crowding the cities more than they already were - and so many needing food, shelter and a job. The great west was still yet to be explored. Amongst farmers and ranch settlers, cash was something of a rarity and most purchases were paid for via whatever you could grow, make, hunt or cotton. Yet back in the east in bigger cities, there was more than enough cash to go around. What with a booming amount of theaters, concerts, assembly dancer and steepled churches filled the streets. 

This would otherwise be known as the Antebellum years - years leading up to the Civil War (my favorite bit of history to study). The great west expedition by Lewis & Clark had begun. It would only be a matter of years before more of the west would be settled - mainly by men & their families who fought in previous wars, and by then had fought in the Civil War. I bet many a believer during these years prayed that God would end the wars and bring victory!

"God Bless our Land." (lyric) Simple prayer, not? Friends, we are definitely living in the end days. We are in a time of "infectious diseases, wars and rumors of wars, where nations rise up amongst nations and where we hear of famines and earthquakes around various locations - this is the beginning of the birth pains." (Matthew 6:7-8). For some it can be a scary time, but for us followers of Christ, it means we are one step closer to an eternity of life in heaven. So why wouldn't you pray?

"Oh God, our country save by your great might." (lyric) Pray for all the lost and prodigals. Pray for our land - that it would be healed, in more than one way. Pray for the famines and food shortages (some of the country are already experiencing these). But...there is GOD! God has said he will provide. "God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) No need to worry, as he will provide for us. Does he not provide for the sparrow? (Matthew 6:25-34).

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you." (Matthew 6:33) God gives us the direction we need - we only need to follow it and he will always provide for us.