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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
On a recent road trip I noticed an SUV pass us with a bumper sticker that I thought I was reading wrong. (I'm near-sighted even with my contacts in.) So I asked my husband if it said what I thought it did. He said, "Yes. 'Pray for a secular society'." I then noticed the license plate, which said "3 HORSES". I joked with my husband that I was glad it didn't say "4 HORSES" - that would have been a bit too freaky!
But the bumper sticker disturbed me. How sad that there are many who believe we can solve all our problems by taking God out of society. Our Founding Fathers certainly knew differently and many Christians and non-Christians are beginning to recognize and acknowledge the effects on our country caused by removing prayer from schools, legalizing abortion and allowing our government to operate in the realm of humanism.
Election time always magnifies these issues for us as Christians and I know I begin to think about whether I stand up for God on a daily basis when it comes to secular versus sacred. Sometimes it's easy to slip so far down the slope of euphemism that I don't realize I'm nearing the pit of compromise.
But what would happen in America, or any nation, if we Christians truly believed and lived the scripture, especially 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
God doesn't even require that the entire land turn to Him - only His people. He only asks that we do what we are called to do as "His people" in the first place. Hmm . . . have I been doing that?
After seeing that bumper sticker I did immediately pray the opposite of its message. I also prayed that the owner would have a positive encounter with some Christians and see what a real relationship with God looks like.
But I think God is leading me to do more . . . .
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a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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