Restoring Religious Freedom

“I remember an America where God was honored in everything we did. We honored Him in school where we asked His blessing on our day with a brief prayer. We honored Him from our courtrooms to our sporting events. Most every formal institution began proceedings by calling on the Name of the Lord our God, His wisdom, His mercy, His care, and His justice. We humbly asked Him for His Divine intervention in our affairs and decisions. Where has that America gone? Slowly, ever so slowly, we have become more secularized and pushed God out of the public square. How can we think we do not need His direction? How prideful that is! 

“The result of our dishonoring of Him as a culture is that He is now being forcibly pushed out of even our personal businesses. Recently, even churches are under open attack. There are godless men and women who desire to see God removed from society completely! They want God relegated to our private lives within our own homes. I say, ‘Enough is enough!’ 

“The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individual’s religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.1

“We must pray concerning our religious freedom and our right to preach, teach, worship and observe our religious beliefs.” (Cindy Jacobs) 

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1; NIV)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Pray we will continue to have “the right to follow the dictates of our conscience and the demands of our religious conviction” (President Trump): “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold on to the traditions which you were taught whether by word of mouth or by letter from us”. (2 Thessalonians 2:15; ESV)
  •  Pray for unity and peace: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” (Colossians 3:13-14; NIV)
  • Pray we love one another: “Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18; GNT)

A prayer you can pray:

Lord, I remember what it was like when I was young and we could pray so much more freely in public places. Slowly, over my lifetime, that has been eroded away, until Christians are fearful to make public displays of affection to You. I’m not sure exactly how we let that happen in America, but it has become our reality. I am so thankful for people like President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Special Ambassador of Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, and a number of Christian Senators and U.S. Representatives who are working governmentally to reverse this cultural dismissal of You. I am asking that You give the Church the boldness and faith to honor You openly. I am deciding today to talk about You everywhere I go. I will worship You openly wherever I go. I’ll encourage my children (or grandchildren) to take their Bibles to school and read them there. I commit to talk to my children about You as we go about our day. I will not hesitate to pray publicly. I will even learn to write my elected representatives and tell them how I feel about the legislation they are supporting. If many Believers do these things, we will honor You as the Lord of our nation once again! Stir us up, Jesus! We welcome You into the public square once again. Amen.

Today’s decree:

God, we welcome You and honor You in the public square in this nation!

Learn more about Cindy Jacobs here.
1. Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment