An email is coming around asking us to pray for America. Though I believe this is something we should be doing, I am not sure that the focus of the letter is aimed in the right direction. The author states that our nation is/has been on a slippery slope for a long time. And further states that we can reverse this trend by praying for our nation and its leaders and asking for forgiveness. The hope of this letter is that eventually, millions and millions of people will be lifting prayers to God daily for our country. The scripture used is 2 Chron. 7:14: "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 I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The number one condition of this scripture first names who this promise is aimed at. "If my people who are called by my name..." It is for a people who God Himself has called. Not our nation. The United States of America was never called by God to be His own. This priviledge was only given to one nation, and that is the Hebrew nation. They were the only whole group of people who were called by God to be his own, His chosen. Later, God called Christians through Jesus Christ. These were grafted onto the Hebrew vine. It is the Chosen who are on that slippery slope, and have been for a long time. The Christian Brethren in the US have been so apathetic, so prideful for so long, the nation suffers. The second condition is "will humble themselves..." Christians are in great need of humbling themselves. They have forgetton that they are just forgiven sinners. Chosen by God, but not worthy in themselves. We need to pause and reflect of the wonderful work that Christ has done for us. "..and pray and seek my face..." We need as Christians to be actively seeking God. Daily. Hourly. It goes beyond "What would Jesus do?" In every aspect of our lives, we should be seeking God in what we do, what we think, what we watch, where we go, how we treat others, which leads to.. "....and turn from their wicked ways,...." Oh, how Christians can be wicked. They become so righteous, that they become worthless to the cause. I believe we need to study what happened to the Pharisees in Christ's time, and why He called them wicked. They seemed holy, and righteous. But they were filled with dead bones. Talk to any unbeliever. Christians have a reputation. And it is not good. We should be hated because we love Christ, not because we are nasty, hateful, 'better than you are' people. "..then I will hear from heaven.." The first conditions of this verse need to be fulfilled before God will hear from heaven. And it needs to be done among the Brethren. Praying for the nation will do no good if the Brethren will not comply with the first conditions of this verse. "..and will forgive their sin..." Again, God will forgive the sin of His chosen, when they have fulfilled the conditions of the scripture. "...and will heal their land." And here, the United States of America can be healed. | 
