The Bible and American Presidents

The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture. ~ Woodrow Wilson | 28th president

Inside the Bible’s pages lie all the answers to all the problems man has ever known... It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds, and refresh our souls. ~ Ronald Reagan | 40th president

Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties. Write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this book are we indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. ~  Ulysses S. Grant | 18th president

The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions… The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country. ~ Calvin Coolidge | 30th president

We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic. . . . Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity. ~ Franklin Roosevelt | 32th president

Father,

The worries of each day are ever around us. Conflict, both within and without, threatens the peace we so desperately want and seek. Father, we come to You with open hearts, seeking Your guidance and being content with all that You have given us as a nation. Guard our hearts, O Lord, so that we will be faithful to You, and let the peace of Your presence surround us each and every day.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6–7

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. — 2 John 1:3

God, the Father of this nation, has promised us grace, mercy, and peace in the midst of pain and loss, sin and sorrow, worries and weariness. We can all find reasons to be concerned about our nation and the direction we’re headed. Rather than being anxious, may we choose to be prayerful. Let us keep our eyes on our Sovereign Lord who has protected and sustained our nation to this point.

Let us also be responsible citizens, asking God to grant us wisdom about election issues and candidates — and then casting our vote.

• Let us boldly exercise our freedom of choice as we seek to elect new leaders this year.

Excerpted with permission from If My People by Jack Countryman, copyright Jack Countryman.

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Your Turn

Happy Independence Day to our American readers! During this election year, let’s be fervently in prayer for our leaders and diligent in our own research before we come to the polls in November knowing that God is fully in control. ~ Devotionals Daily