A Nation’s Prayer for Its Flag
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” - Isaiah 30:17
Listen or Read Below:
As a child, one of my cousins and I learned the words to “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and to our delight, we sang it over and over again during family gatherings.
To this day, I don’t know what led or inspired us to learn the words and start singing about our flag. Or, why we got such a kick out of singing it non-stop for our family, but the words still come easily to me:
You’re a grand old flag
You’re a high-flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave,
You’re the emblem of
The land I love
The home of the free and the brave
Every heart beats true
Under Red, White, and Blue
Where there’s never a boast or brag
But should old acquaintance be forgot
Keep your eye on the grand old flag
As some may attest, like my cousin and me, the American flag is known to stir the hearts of its patriotic citizens, as a piece of American history that has seen our nation through many conflicts, standing for life, liberty, justice, and freedom for all.
A nation’s flag is an emblem, a symbol of what that nation represents to the world. Some may believe it’s of no regard nowadays, but it tells us in a moment, just by sight, about the nation, its people, and its policies represented.
As we celebrate Flag Day every year on June 14th, we pray for our nation’s flag, adopted by our Continental Congress in 1777, to represent freedom and the sanctity of human life that comes from God.
It’s a day to reflect on what it represents to us and the world at large. As our United States Constitution Preamble states:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”
Who can forget the statue of Iwo Jima, created from an iconic photograph of six United States Marines holding up the American Flag, representing victory and freedom? It is a poignant monument to the Battle of Iwo Jima, which was a major battle during World War II, where the United States Marines and Navy landed and captured the island from the Imperial Japanese Army.
This historic American event is captured in a photo and then a monument, picturing what Isaiah 18:3 (NASB) describes: “All you who inhabit the world, and live on earth, As soon as a flag is raised on the mountains, you will see it, And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hear it.”
“Of course, it’s just a symbol,” notes Dr. Jerry Newcombe, Executive Director of Providence Forum, “but it’s a powerful one. To me, it represents the American story--self-rule under God.”
Newcombe believes we should honor our flag because it honors God and our country. “A lot of blood was shed defending that flag,” he explains, “and it represents the freedom we enjoy.”
The raising of our flag is a moment that captures the heart of America, a victorious nation that unites, supports, and stands for freedom.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
We pray for our nation’s flag to wave in humbleness and hope, to represent a country that honors and glorifies Your name above all other names.
Let it be carried, waved, and stand for a nation of people who follow Your ways.
Let our nation’s flag represent, too, the true freedom given to us through Jesus Christ, God’s gift for every person who receives His Salvation and freedom from sin and its penalty.
As many around the world still believe America is a Christian nation, we ask You with sincere hearts to make it so, and for our flag to represent a country that trusts in You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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Photo Credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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