Pray for our nation and its leaders this holiday

I get very concerned over the direction our country is going. We seem to have wandered a long way from the vision our forefathers had for our nation, and their strong belief in God. How can we get this back? Or is it too late? — Mrs. N.G.

Once again this July 4th, our nation celebrates its birthday, and I hope each one of us will pause and thank God for the ways He has blessed us over these past 233 years. Moses’ words to the ancient Israelites could almost be applied to us: “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched your journey” (Deuteronomy 2:7).

At the same time, our nation is in danger of forgetting God, and turning away from the moral and spiritual principles that made our nation great. We’re in danger of forgetting that freedom doesn’t mean we can do anything we want to. It must be linked to a sense of right and wrong, and a concern for justice and the needs of others. If we lose sight of these, we will end up in moral and spiritual chaos.

What is our greatest need? Our greatest need as a nation is to turn to God in repentance and faith, and put Him and His will at the center of our lives. Is it too late to do that? No, of course not, because God always is ready to forgive us and give us new life. It has happened before - and it can happen again.

But no matter what others do, make sure of your own commitment to Christ and His will for your life. Then pray for our nation and its leaders, that Jesus’ prayer may be fulfilled in our nation’s life: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The Rev. Billy Graham, whose column appears every Saturday, can be contacted www.billygraham.org.