We are seeing, in a very real way, what happens when a nation loses the fear of the Lord. The unraveling is not only political, social, or economic. It is spiritual. When people no longer honor God, truth becomes blurry, sin becomes normal, and wisdom is replaced with pride.
The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). That means a nation is lifted up when it does what is right in God’s eyes. But when sin is celebrated, defended, and protected, shame and trouble follow.
Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” A nation is blessed when it recognizes God as Lord, not just in words, but in the way it lives, leads, judges, teaches, and treats people. When the Lord is pushed aside, the foundation begins to crack.
The fear of the Lord is not hatred or terror. It is holy reverence. It is knowing that God is righteous, that His Word is true, and that every person and every nation will answer to Him. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Without that fear, people may gain knowledge, power, and wealth, but still make foolish choices.
We should not only point fingers at leaders or systems. God’s people must also examine ourselves. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that if God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from wicked ways, then He will hear, forgive, and heal. The answer begins with repentance, prayer, and returning to the Lord.
This is not a time for fear, but it is a time for soberness. It is not a time to lose hope, but it is a time to wake up. God is still merciful. He is still calling people back to truth. He is still able to heal what is broken.
May we fear the Lord again. May we honor His Word again. May we pray for our nation again. And may we remember that real change starts when hearts turn back to God.
Lord, have mercy on us and on our nation. Forgive us for the ways we have turned from You, ignored Your Word, and trusted in our own understanding. Teach us to fear You again with humble hearts. Lead us back to righteousness, truth, and obedience. Raise up people who will pray, repent, and stand for what is right. Heal what is broken, restore what has been lost, and let our hearts turn fully back to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
The Responsibility of Leaders
Now let’s talk about leadership.
Throughout Scripture, God places tremendous responsibility on those who lead. Whether they’re kings, judges, pastors, teachers, parents, or public officials, leaders influence the direction of the people under their care.
The principle is simple: when leaders honor God, they create conditions where righteousness can flourish. When leaders reject God’s wisdom, entire communities often suffer the consequences.
We see this pattern repeatedly in the Bible. When Israel’s kings followed the Lord, the nation experienced peace, justice, and spiritual renewal. But when those same leaders embraced idolatry, corruption, and pride, the people followed their example, and the nation declined.
Leadership is never merely about power. It is about stewardship.
A leader’s role is not to determine what is right and wrong according to personal preference. A leader’s role is to uphold what is right according to God’s standards. When leaders believe they are accountable only to themselves, pride takes root. But when leaders understand they are accountable to God, humility and wisdom have room to grow.
This is why Proverbs warns us that where there is no godly wisdom, people stumble. A nation can have advanced technology, military strength, and economic success, yet still be headed in the wrong direction if its leaders lack moral clarity and reverence for God.
The danger is that leadership often magnifies character. Whatever exists in the heart of a leader eventually becomes visible in their decisions. If the heart is governed by pride, selfish ambition, and dishonesty, those traits eventually shape policies, institutions, and culture. But if the heart is governed by justice, humility, and the fear of the Lord, those qualities can positively impact countless lives.
Yet Scripture also reminds us that leaders alone are not responsible for the spiritual health of a nation.
People often want better leaders while refusing to become better followers of God themselves. The truth is that leaders often emerge from the culture they represent. If a society values truth, integrity, and righteousness, it is more likely to produce leaders who embody those qualities.
That’s why the Bible calls not only for righteous leadership but also for prayer on behalf of leaders.
In First Timothy chapter two, believers are instructed to pray for kings and all who are in authority. Notice that Scripture doesn’t say to pray only for leaders we agree with. We’re called to pray for all leaders because leadership carries immense pressure, enormous responsibility, and far-reaching consequences.
Praying for leaders is not an endorsement of every decision they make. It is an acknowledgment that no human being possesses enough wisdom to lead effectively apart from God’s guidance.
Imagine what could happen if leaders sought God’s wisdom before pursuing personal agendas. Imagine businesses led with integrity, churches led with humility, communities led with compassion, and governments led with a genuine commitment to justice. The impact would extend far beyond politics. It would touch families, neighborhoods, schools, and future generations.
Ultimately, the greatest leader is not found in a government office or an earthly throne. The greatest leader is Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Every human leader is imperfect. Every human government has limitations. But God’s rule is perfect, righteous, and eternal.
And that truth should remind us that while we should care deeply about leadership, our ultimate hope must never rest in human leaders. Our hope must rest in God alone.
Minister A Francine Green, September 2026