There's not a place on Earth that's been left untouched.                                                    
Nation after nation suffers from the effects of Godlessness.				
Strife. Greed. Rebellion. Pride. Abandonment. Loneliness. Shame…
These aren’t new. They’ve been here as long as anyone remembers.
Sin brought them, and sin left them, never once offering to remove them.
And we, on our own, have never known how to fix or dismiss them.
They’ve simply become the backdrop of our lives.
Yet this was never Your plan for us, God.
You sent Jesus to show us how to live.

In our nation’s beginnings, America was anchored to You.
Survival—whether of people, freedom, or our nation—
all were dependent upon You. 
We prayed for Your guidance, Your wisdom, and Your blessing…continually…
…Until we didn’t.

Over the years, in quiet rebellion,
we’ve walked away from the One we once reverently pursued,
Ignored the One we once adored,
Scorned the One we once acknowledged to be our only hope!

Our nation’s heart has slowly wandered. Not ever a thought of calling You King.
Like fools we’ve squandered 
our freedom and prosperity
until now our sin has brought us 
to the same dire place where it once led a prodigal.
Oh God of our Fathers, bring us to our senses!
May the path of destruction winnowed by our own sin 
Soon lead us to a place where at last we
cry for help that only You can give.

In Your mercy, Lord, change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.
Open our eyes to see that we are
wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
Only then will we at last kneel and pray,

“God, our King, we bow before You,
In repentance for our wickedness.
Forgive us, Lord, for leaving You.
The mess we’re in is a mess much-deserved,
The ripened harvest of what we’ve sown. 
We’ve done nothing to deserve Your mercy
And everything to deserve Your scorn.
Yet You’ve said that even when we aren’t faithful, You remain faithful.

“So we humble ourselves and cry, Jesus! Savior! 
Have mercy on us! We need Your forgiveness!
Only You can rescue, redeem and re-form us.
Wash us in the blood of the Lamb
and we will be whiter than snow.
Prince of Peace, bring healing to our much-divided land!
And when our hearts have been restored 
to Your love and to Your ways
May America ever live to honor our King 
and carry His love to the nations.” 

Thank You for the assurance that You will hear us.
Thank You for Your mercy to forgive us.
Thank You for promising to heal our land.
How we love You, our faithful, merciful King!