"Why I Love America” (John Wayne)

• That the depression gripping the nation was causing fear and panic among the people.

• Factories were stopping production, and thousands were unemployed.

Although Jeremiah Lanthier was not a big industrialist, only a clerk, he had one important distinction. He was a man who had great faith in God!

Concerned with the grim economic situation, he sent a note to all his business acquaintances, telling them that each day at noon a prayer meeting would be held in his office.

• With high hopes, he arranged 20 chairs in a circle, but the first day no one came.

• All alone he prayed fervently that God would bring about a great change in him, and in America.

• The second day he was encouraged, for a few friends joined him.

• A short time later a similar gathering was started on Wall Street, and finally on Broadway.

Then, like wildfire, the movement spread to all parts of the country. The moral tone of the nation was affected, and there was a great upsurge in the spiritual life of the people.

Some historians say that this effort of united prayer and faith was an integral part of the improvement in the economy which soon followed.

Psalm 33:12 states clearly, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

While we recognize that prayer has done much for individuals, homes, churches, and nations, there is something about prayer that many folks do not know.

Did you know that many of the songs we sing are prayers offered up to the Lord?

Illus: Our song leader when he leads us in a congregational hymn, he could say, “Now let us pray as we sing “Cleanse Me.”

Listen to some of the words in this prayer:

• “Search me, O God, and know my heart today:

• Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray.

• See if there be some wicked way in me.

• Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.”

That is a prayer, a beautiful prayer every time we sing it.

Illus: There are many more, such as:

• In the Garden

• Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

• My Faith Looks Up to Thee

• Pass Me Not

• Sweet Hour of Prayer

• Tell It to Jesus

• What a Friend We Have in Jesus

You might say, “All right, I agree that many songs in our hymnbooks are prayers, BUT DOES GOD HEAR THOSE KINDS OF PRAYERS?”

We have ample proof that He indeed does.

For example, we have been singing for many years that old hymn prayer, which Kate Smith made so popular many years ago, “God, Bless America!”

As we have sang that song as a prayer unto the Lord, God has heard it, and God has blessed America.

In a world that seems to be in utter chaos at times, we can always be thankful that God has allowed us to be born in, and to live in America.

Illus: Something you hardly ever hear citizens of our country saying is, “I wish I lived in some other country!” (Especially if they have visited any other country.) You might hear, “If I could not live in America, I would like to live somewhere else.” But our first choice is to live in America!

Illus: Sometime before a political election we have some of the rich say, “If my candidate does not win, I am going to move out of this country.”

Such people as:

• Barbara Streisand

• Jon Stewart

• Tina Fey

• Whoopi Goldberg

• Stephen Baldwin

• Cher and others

Many of us would be willing to buy their airplane ticket, but have you notice, they never move!

America’s living standard is the envy of the world.

Illus: A pastor asked a young Jamaican, “What do you plan to do with your life?” He replied, “My greatest desire is to one day be able to go to America.”

Many countries have “built walls” to hold their people in and at the same time the people try to tear them down so they can leave and come to America.

We Americans are a blessed people; make no mistake about it!

Why are we blessed?

Psalm 33:12 tells us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

Although America has suffered many spiritual reverses, let me show you why God has blessed this nation we call America.

I. LOOK AT OUR FOUNDATION.

Illus: Any builder will tell you the most important thing in building is the foundation. If the foundation is not right the building will come tumbling down.

This is also true in the building of a nation.