Tears streamed down my face as I slowly read through the day’s headlines on my phone. It seemed that every day, the more I scrolled, the worse I felt.

Once in a while, a news site I frequented would post a positive or inspirational story, but those were few and far between. Nevertheless, each day I sifted through stories of war, murder, suicide, violence, and political mudslinging, like a prospector shaking a tray to find an elusive golden nugget of good news.

To me, some of the most distressing news concerned events in the United States. As someone who was raised in a military family, love for this great nation has been instilled within me. We had Flag Day concerts in elementary school, where we proudly waved tiny American flags throughout the program. We had Fourth of July and Memorial Day parades, where Scouts rode bikes, drill teams twirled rifles, and marching bands performed. (I have intimate experience because I was part of the latter two groups.) At these and many other events in my small town in Southwestern New York, veterans were always a centerpiece, as we honored their service and sacrifice.

Back then, I had no way of knowing that the country I loved—and still fiercely love and would give my life for—would one day appear to be coming apart at the seams. Hence my tears at reading the daily headlines.

I cried out, “God, what is happening in this country? Everything is going off the rails, and the news seems worse every day. What can we do—what can I do—in the face of all this hatred and violence?”

One of my greatest flaws as a Christian, and as a person, is that I am a horrible listener. When I pray, I often don’t wait for a response. I typically say or write, “Amen!” and scurry along to whatever’s next on my agenda.

But that day, I sat in silence after sending up my desperate plea. I took deep, calming breaths until my nerves and mind were soothed, and wiped away my subsiding tears. As I sat there in the silent stillness, the clear, simple answer drifted into my mind: pray.

My eyes widened, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

For almost twenty years now, I’ve had a running joke with God. I cry out to Him, asking what to do. And the answer is the same: pray. You’d think that by now, I’d know this. But if life has taught me anything, it’s that I’m about as stiff-necked and stubborn as they come.

In spite of two decades of my questions being answered with pray, it still surprised me on this day. I’m not sure why, though. Did the problems America and the world were facing seem too big, the animosity too deep-seated? Or was I forgetting the thing that I always seem to forget: Prayer is the single most powerful weapon we have in our arsenal against the dark and evil forces in our world.

Even though we Christians disagree on many things, I think we can all agree that prayer is powerful.

After I was reminded to pray, another thought occurred to me: What if every Christian in the United States committed to praying for our nation each day for an entire year? What miracles could be wrought if we fell to our knees and bowed our heads for 365 days, faithfully lifting up our government, institutions, leaders, and citizens to the Lord’s throne of grace and mercy?

The Bible contains numerous instances of intercessory prayer (for a small sampling, see Genesis 18:22–33; Exodus 32:9–14; Daniel 9:3–19; and Luke 23:34). Although God is omniscient and omnipotent, He loves hearing from His children and granting those petitions that align with His will.

Honestly, even if we all pray every day for a year, America might not change. In fact, things might get even worse. I say that not to discourage or serve as a deterrent, but as a statement of fact and a hard truth of the reality of living in a sinful world. As we know from the fall of ancient Israel, sometimes a nation and a people pass a point of no return. And the Lord, in His justice, must enact punishment. Yet the faithful remnant of the Israelites was eventually restored to its land, albeit in absence of the former glory and with much heartache.

However, even if nothing changes in our country, we will be changed. Come what may, we’ll be better equipped to navigate our chaotic world, until the Lord calls us home or Jesus Christ returns. We will be able to persevere, for the Spirit of the Lord who dwells within us will continually remind us that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

Won’t you join me in praying for our country every day? We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, for “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

Excerpt taken from One Nation Under God: 40 Devotions for Patriotic Women by Amanda C. Bauch (published November 11, 2025, by Post Hill Press)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version^®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Join My Mailing List!

Sign up & you’ll receive:

• My monthly newsletter, with a focus on faith, motherhood, mental health, writing, and books. And probably cats.
• Updates as I take you behind the scenes on writing, publishing, and launching a book.
• Exclusive access to special offers, such as mini devotionals you can download for free!