“One nation, under God, indivisible…” Do our children even hear these words anymore? What do we teach them about God’s lawful sovereignty over this nation, about the Name that is above every title and position and political authority?

I just heard the Lieutenant Governor of Texas say, in response to the shootings yesterday in Uvalde, TX: “We will always have evil walking among us.” How devastatingly true that is. But how can we hope to defend ourselves, protect our most vulnerable, and stem the rampant hate, lawlessness, and cruelty rocking our nation if we continue to marginalize God and look only to ourselves for healing solutions?

Spiritual warfare had become increasingly visible to our mortal eyes as we witness day after day horrors that not so long ago were unthinkable. Without God to fight for us, we are helpless against “the cosmic powers of this present darkness…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” as Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians (6:12).

If our nation is to overcome this encroaching darkness and heal the wounds inflicted by the evil fruits of hatred and godlessness, we must return, not only individually but as a people, to the Source of all truth and goodness and life. We must humble ourselves, repent of our dark pursuits, and seek the face of God while he may be found.

I came across the following prayer in this morning’s Daily Office of the Episcopal Church. Please take a few minutes to pray these words with me. Let our prayer rise together as a sweet fragrance on behalf of our beloved America.

[Prayer] For Our Country:

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And Amen.