A Patriot’s Wisdom – Patrick Henry

“It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.” (Patrick Henry, March 23, 1776)1

“You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32; NASB)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

  • Hope is critical to our faith in God, but hope has a downside – psychological blindness. Ask the Lord to help you look at the condition of our nation with honesty first (truth), to see how dark things truly are. Let yourself weep over it, if need be.
  • Now, ask the Lord to help You see what He plans to do about these dark things. Let hope now arise in your heart that God is able to set things right.
  • Intercede on behalf of the United States from this fresh perspective.

A prayer you can pray:

Dear Lord, help me if I have put the cart before the horse and been hopeful for this nation’s future without comprehending the truth of the mess we are in. I haven’t wanted to really know. I don’t like believing that things are really so bad. Open my eyes and show me how bad things are. Now, renew my hope and show me what You plan to do about it. Show me how to pray that all of Your plans come to pass. (Intercede as He shows you.) In Jesus’ name, amen.

Today’s decree:

The moral condition of the United States is terrible and ugly, but God, You are able to put us back on Your course!

1 Patrick Henry. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” speech at St. John’s Church, which historians believe ignited the Revolutionary War. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2016. Source: Wirt, William. Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry . (Philadelphia) 1836, as reproduced in The World’s Great Speeches, Lewis Copeland and Lawrence W. Lamm, eds., (New York) 1973.