I clearly remember the feel of the tall grasses brushing against my waders on that early July evening, just before America’s birthday celebration.

The sky was barely lit with remnants of dusk and the air was still. 

As I reeled in a small trout🐟 from the stream, I caught a glimpse of fireworks above the tree line. Pop, Pop, Hisssss, the artful display was barely audible.

Though I was alone in the darkening meadow, the distant fireworks was a still and peaceful connection with my fellow Americans. Perhaps they’re symbolic of the “rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.” Through the festive display, we acknowledge our heritage and celebrate the relative peace and freedoms we have living in this country.

But what about after the unifying patriotic moments?

The fireworks fade and the flags 🇺🇸 get put away until Labor Day. We quickly go back to complaining about certain policies and agendas. 

It hurts our hearts to see court decisions or laws implemented that go against our moral fiber, Biblical principles, or just our opinions on how culture should be arranged.

We often feel that we don’t have much say and can’t change anything in this big legal machine called USA.

There are plenty of government rules and policies that make me feel uncomfortable, frustrated, or just sad, and I imagine there are some for you too!

But, remembering who we are in this world makes all the difference in our perspective on the country we live in.

As a Christian, I see two choices on how we can live.

1 - as an Ambassador for Christ. To be a representative of the kingdom of God and all the promises and truth in His word.

Or,

2 - we can be a “quiet Christian” whose life and conversation do not let others know of the hope we have as God’s precious ones.

(Pro-tip: Don’t be a quiet Christian 😅)

Here are a few verses that guide me when I feel like there’s nothing I can do to change whatever government thing that I don’t like but must live under. 

These verses in particular remind me that I do have the power to influence something! And that power is (often underutilized) prayer, directly to our Heavenly Father.

I Timothy 2:1-2 says “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

Don’t you love it when God explains the results that we get directly when we do what He recommends? After all, who doesn’t want to live a quiet and peaceable life? That reason right there is why we should be praying for our leaders every day.

But I don’t 😔

I often forget or get become intentional about my prayer time.

Until I start complaining about something that I cannot fix. 

And then I remember that I can talk to the only One who can make an actual difference through all the ways that He can influence the people who can make the changes.

Our God knows people.

Christian sister, our Dad really knows people!

People who can make positive changes. People who have made changes throughout history that He has orchestrated. He’s the One who sets up kings! Proverbs 21:1 is clear that God also turns the hearts of kings.

But, it’s not only change in laws of the land that we should anticipate when we pray. It’s also change in our own hearts. The “quiet and peaceable life” can be lived even in the midst of shortages and inflation. Of scarcity whispers and wars happening, and fear in my neighbor’s eyes. 

Jeremiah 29:7 gives us reason to be involved. “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

The short and direct passage in I Peter 2:17 is like social media bullet points for how to live.

• Honour all men.
• Love the brotherhood.
• Fear God.
• Honour the king.

Speaking of respect, this passage always convicts me when my human-nature pride gets sneaky and tells me how much better I am than certain people, or that my ideas are more valid than someone else’s.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

So, when red-white-and-blue t-shirts are put away after the patriotic moment, let’s remember that flying the flag 🇺🇸 is outward support of the country we live in, but prayer for those in authority is the inward foundation we can influence… and it really helps our hearts too. ❤️

I’m hoping you had a joyful moment with family or friends this holiday as we are thankful for living in a (relatively) free country for the moment.

And I’m praying for you, as the Lord leads you to live out your role as an Ambassador for Christ in this imperfect world.

Joyfully,

Ginger Lee Myers

🌟Ambassador Vision