One year after the phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance, the United States of America established the country's motto in 1956 that says, "In God We Trust". How in a short 45 years have we become the people of one nation under God to one nation under debt?

We have polluted our lives and consequentially our homes with the lusts of sinful self through the absence of prayer and the reading of God's word. We have cut off communication with God while increasing our abilities to communicate with the world. We have gone after false idols to the point we have wearied ourselves and our families. Instead of paying honor to our Father who gave birth to us through salvation and the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ we work our time away so we may honor credit card and mortgage payments. We have made ourselves lords who refuse to humble themselves and come to God. We refuse correction and prodding through prideful and vain defiance. And for what? Homes with three bedrooms, a finished downstairs and pool along with children who view success as the achieving of worldly goods and recognition instead of achieving the favor of God.

The race to gain and maintain earthly status has caused us to worry more about the emblem on the back of our vehicles, the name on our shoes, and a Mc-mansion on a hill instead of the furtherance of God's never ending Kingdom in which He has prepared a place for us with a mansion that will never be destroyed. How do we return to our first love in order to save ourselves and leave a Christ centered heritage to the next generation? We must humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from our foolish desires and wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven and heal our land, our lives, our families (reference II Chronicles 7:14). "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6).

Choose today, right now to start reading God's word in front of and to our children. Let them see us memorize His word and hear us pray over them. May our prayers be more than for their safety and blessings on them but prayers for God to embolden them to share the gospel, to know God's word in their hearts and minds, and for God to increase them in wisdom. Include them in maintaining the family budget that lists tithing first, then have them join in prayer over that budget. Live to be known as children of repentance and obedience, not as spiritual and financial stumbling blocks to our kids. "When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, a breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain." Isaiah 57:13.

Diana M. Cline