Always...

Three weeks ago today, a ruling was handed down by Judge Barbara Crabb in Wisconsin that labeled the National Day of Prayer as unconstitutional. It is clear that, regardless of our faith-filled and God-blessed heritage, this country no longer values God – in fact, many Americans resent God. A judge in our own government is telling us that a nation-wide day of prayer for our country is illegal by the laws of our country. To Christians, though, that should come as no surprise. “As it is written: 'There is...no one who seeks God'” (Romans 3:10-11, NASB). That includes governments. In the early days of Christianity, when the Christian church was still young, the civilized world of the day was ruled by Roman emperors such as Claudius and Nero. Most of the Roman emperors certainly did not fear God; in contrast, they persecuted the fledgling church. But that didn't stop the small band of Christians from praying – and God preserved for Himself a remnant, a group of those who remained faithful to Him.

A few years after Solomon was crowned king over Israel, he built a grand temple for the LORD of Israel. At a lavish ceremony, Solomon led the Israelite people in a prayer of devotion and loyalty to God. Then God spoke to Solomon. “'When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land'” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). God knew that Israel would fall away from Him – again and again and again. Yet God promised that if His remnant – His faithful few – would humble themselves and pray to Him, He would heal their land. God always preserves a remnant.

In the book of 1 Kings, King Ahab scoffed at following God's ways. The entire country – so blessed by the providential miracles of God and His revealed Word – fell spiritually with their leader, and soon suffered drought (both physical and spiritual) just as God had said. Ahab persecuted the prophets of God, but one of them, Elijah, refused to be dissuaded from his God-given message and mission. Eventually, however, Elijah felt emotionally defeated. He told God, “'I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too'” (1 Kings 19:14). Yet God replied with His plan, the plan that would overcome all others, and assured Elijah, “'I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him'” (1 Kings 19:18). God always preserves a remnant.

On May 7, 1988, the United States Senate unanimously passed a bill designating the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.

On April 15, 2010, federal judge Barbara Crabb ruled that the National Day of Prayer – unanimously agreed upon only twenty-two years before – is unconstitutional. America is turning away from God. The nation so blessed by God is rapidly leaving its godly roots. Yet God always preserves a remnant.

“"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” The promise still stands. The remnant still exists. The land needs healing. What if His people prayed? What if the remnant faithfully sought His face?

While I applaud President Obama's decision to appeal Judge Crabb's ruling, I am saddened to witness his lack of emphasis on this important day. Yes, he is declaring May 6, 2010, as the National Day of Prayer, but he plans to observe the day privately (without a formal service) and welcomes all belief systems on equal footing. Yet we are the remnant, and God's call of obedience is to us. Whether or not our president prays to God, we will pray for him – and for our country. It's what remnants do.