Finding America’s Soul – Prayer

We turned on the TV last Saturday night looking for an hour of relaxation. Instead, we learned someone tried to kill the president. We watched numbly as the events were replayed.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington is usually a light-hearted event where journalists and the president poke fun at each other. However, on April 25, gunshots rang out and the acrid odor of gun powder filled the room. Two thousand journalists and dignitaries dived under tables. The Secret Service took the president, first lady and other officials to safety. (Plus, they captured the shooter right away!)

Less than two hours later, the president spoke to the nation from the White House. No matter your stand on politics, I thought he showed courage, presence of mind, and concern for the people in our country at that dark hour.

While all of this was going on, the little jukebox in my mind kept playing the same melody over and over, trying to send me a message. Finally, I paid attention to the words: When the earth all around me is sinking sand/On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand/when I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the Rock.

This upbeat song was written by Dottie Rambo and covered by Whitney Houston, the Gaithers and many others. You can easily listen to a version on the Internet.

I knew right away what it meant to “go to the Rock.” There are many scriptures about Christ being our rock who is always there, who never changes, and who can be depended upon. One of my favorite rock scriptures is Psalm 18:2-3. The NKJV states it this way:

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

We shouldn’t need a national crisis in order to pray for our country. Prayer has been at the heart of our nation ever since the members of the 1st Continental Congress humbled themselves and knelt to ask for God’s help in forming the United States. The story is captured in a riveting movie that is out right now called “The Great Awakening.”

May 7 is the National Day of Prayer. All across the nation, people will gather online and in person to seek God’s guidance and protection for our nation. In North Dakota events are planned at the State Capitol in Bismarck, and in Dickinson, Fargo and Minot. Find out more at: North Dakota – National Day of Prayer Task Force

This year my blog posts will all relate to the 250^th anniversary of the United States. Check out the post on Finding America’s Soul: The Church at https://gaylelarsonschuck.com