God of Our Fathers

During my morning prayer time, I have certain days that I pray for certain things. Friday is the day on which I pray particularly for our country, the leaders and the military. Today, for some reason, a sadness overflowed me. It's hard to explain why it was such an overwhelming feeling of sadness, but it was. It's not that I'm such a super patriotic person, but I do love my country very much, even with all its faults. It just seems that we've come a long way, and not necessarily has that been a good thing. Technologically, of course, but in other ways it's a different story. All of the election 2008 news these past few weeks don't bring hope and encouragement from my vantage point. Of course, I'm not going to name any names, but I just don't know what our future holds. But then, Who is it that really holds the future? So we can keep praying, right? Let's all do that. Even though there is a lot that we could look at and feel dismayed, there's always hope in God if His people, who are called by His name, humble themselves.

I often look back to our republic's beginning and feel hope. Much of what was accomplished back then regarding the framework is still with us, really. And the same God who led our forefathers is still with us if we seek Him. He can do anything. So I say to myself : "Hope Thou in God." Now I feel better.

View this week's hymn as a prayer and please join me in praying for our nation, especially now.

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
In this free land by thee our lot is cast;
Be thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay;
Thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be thy strong arm our ever sure defence;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

~ Daniel C. Roberts, 1876

Listen here. The tune is encouraging and triumphant, giving us impetus to move forward. May His "true religion" increase in our hearts. That means the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. All praise to Him!