We Must Repent and Return to the Lord

National Day of Prayer

May 2, 2024

On the eve of the National Day of Prayer this year, I am reflecting on the blessings of God in

our nation. America is the longest ongoing Constitutional Republic in history. This gift from God

we call America – the greatest nation ever built - is founded on God’s Word, the Bible. Noah

Webster wrote, “The brief exposition of the constitution of the United States, will unfold to young

persons the principles of republican government; and it is the sincere desire of the writer that

our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is

the Bible, particularly the New Testament or the Christian religion.” [1] Consequently, we live and

work in the wealthiest nation on Earth. In 2022 America achieved the highest GDP [Gross

Domestic Product] on Earth at $25.4 Trillion Dollars, with China a distant second at $17.8

Trillion Dollars. [2] And this with a population of only about 339 million people as compared to

China’s 1.4 billion people. [3]

And though we are currently a very divided, fragmented nation, still, because our

Constitutional Republic is built upon God’s Word, the Bible, we still enjoy unprecedented

harmony and peace. Founding Father Noah Webster wrote, “The religion which has introduced

civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and

benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with

equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of

Government.” [4]

We have much to be thankful for as we come to the National Day of Prayer. This year,

however, a cloud hangs over our nation. Unprincipled politicians have steered us into a national

debt of over $32 trillion dollars. Still the strongest in the world, our military is showing worrisome

signs of aging and decline. Our national security is threatened by unsecured borders, the result

of the neglect and unprincipled, disqualified leadership of our current President. And because

we have failed to teach the founding principles and freedom-giving precepts of our U.S.

Constitution, America is floundering and groping for this and that philosophy. Chasing after

Wokeism, the dangerous precepts of Critical Race Theory, and any other errant ideology that

comes along, America is a very divided nation.

Why? We as a nation have turned our backs on God, His Son, Jesus, and His Word the Bible.

The removal of the Ten Commandments from our Capitol buildings and lawns across the

country is testimony to the fact we have turned our backs on God. Consequently, we have lost

sight of the need for righteousness in daily life. Pastor Frances Grimke said, "If the time comes

when America shall go to pieces, it will... [be] from... losing sight of the fact that 'Righteousness

exalteth a nation, but that sin is a reproach to any people... Unless we hold... to these great

fundamental principles of righteousness, America will be only a covenant with death and an

agreement with hell." [5]

So, as we come to the National Day of Prayer, May 2, 2024, let us soberly consider our ways.

Let us repent of our individual and national sins and let us return to God and His Son, Jesus

Christ. God’s great promise is, “… Return to Me and I will return to you …” (Malachi 3:7).

Pastor Bill Ledbetter

May 2, 2024

Durant, Ok

1. Noah Webster, LL.D., History of the United States (New Haven: S. Babcock, 1837), p. 1 to which is

prefixed “A Brief Historical Account of Our English Ancestors.

2. Statista: Countries with the largest gross domestic product (GDP) 2022 | Statista

3. Ibid, Worldometer: Population by Country (2024) - Worldometer (worldometers.info)

4. Noah Webster, LL.D., History of the United States, Noah Webster, editor (New Haven: Durrie & Peck,

1832), p. 300, Sec. 578.

5. Rev. Francis Grimke (1850-1937), Minister of the Gospel [Masterpieces of Negro Eloquence, Alice

Moore Dunbar, editor (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 2000), p. 246, Rev. Francis J. Grimke, from

“Equality of Right for All Citizens, Black and White, Alike,” March 7, 1909.]