An appeal to heaven is firmly rooted in the American story. Washington’s cruisers had a flag with a New England pine tree on it proclaiming the motto, “An Appeal to Heaven.”
The Declaration of Independence adopted 250 years ago this year declares,
For the rectitude of our intentions, we appeal to the Supreme Judge of the world….With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to one another, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
We face a critical election in America. It surely is time again to appeal to heaven in preparing to cast our votes this November.
Why Appeal to Heaven Regarding Our Nation’s Election?
Why? Because politics is no longer a mere part of national life, seen in the polarization of the politics, the feeling that forces are seeking to undermine American liberties by loosening Constitutional principles that shaped our nation from its birth.
Remember the scene in 1787 when Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Constitutional Convention? Dr. Franklin was asked by Mrs. Powell, the wife of the mayor of Philadelphia, “What kind of government have you given us, Dr. Franklin?” He answered, “A Republic, Madam—if you can keep it.” He knew that the republican form of government is fragile and must be protected.
Our Founders had a logic of liberty that went like this: freed requires a republic. A republic requires a constitution. A constitution requires a moral people. To have a moral people requires religion.
President Washington explained on April 30, 1789 in his First Inaugural Address,
… the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government are, justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.
Nine years later on October 11, 1798, President John Adams expressed his agreement with Washington: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. … Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Founding Father, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote,
I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be republicans and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this divine book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and all those sober and frugal virtues which constitute the soul of republicanism.
A Needed Appeal in 2026
If Rush expressed such concern in 1791, how much more we need an appeal to heaven in 2026! With elections before us, for whom will we vote: Marxists, advocates of Sharia law, conservatives, constitutionalists? Given our elections, an appeal to heaven, namely, sincere prayer, is needed for America.
President Washington insisted that patriotism deeply matters for America. He wrote, “The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism.”
Twelve Prayer Requests Shaped by Washington’s Words
How might we Christians pray to our Heavenly Father as patriots, and offer our appeal to Heaven? Here are twelve prayer requests shaped by the words of Washington.
- Pray for Truth.
“Seek truth and pursue it steadily.” (July 31, 1795.) He asked, “What can be so proper as the truth?” (April 15, 1757) - Pray for authentic Patriotism.
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” (September 19, 1796) - Pray for Integrity in government.
“All see, and most admire, the glare which hovers round the external trappings of elevated office. To me there is nothing in it, beyond the lustre which may be reflected from its connection with a power of promoting human felicity.” (January 9, 1790) “Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue?” (September 19, 1796) - Pray for true Honor that accompanies a Christian’s life.
“On my honor and the faith of a Christian, what I have written to you is true.” (Private letter, 1760) “… we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian.” (At Valley Forge, May 2, 1778) “Every post is honorable in which a man can serve his country.” (September 14, 1775) - Pray for God’s Gracious Providence in the American story.
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have . . . some token of providential agency . . . the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” (April 30, 1789) - Pray that our Leaders will exercise Dependence on God.
“No Man has a more perfect Reliance on the all-wise, and powerful dispensations of the Supreme Being than I have nor thinks his aid more necessary.” (May 13, 1776)
- Pray for true Religion and Morality in America.
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens…. let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” (September 17, 1796) - Pray for the continuance of Religious Liberty.
“Happy, thrice happy shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, … in erecting this stupendous fabrick of … who have assisted in protecting the rights of human nature and establishing an Asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions.” (April 18, 1783) - Pray for Humility by our Leaders in their Politics.
“… my movements to the chair of Government … so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties, without that competency of political skill, abilities and inclination which is necessary to manage the helm.” (March 1789) - Pray for wariness of Foreign Influence.
“Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, … the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; … foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government.” (September 19, 1796) - Pray for Diligence to Follow our Constitution.
“Should, hereafter, those who are entrusted with the management of this government, incited by the lust of power and prompted by … their Constituents, overleap the known barriers of this Constitution and violate the unalienable rights of humanity: … no Wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of boundless ambition … , aided by the sapping current of corrupted morals….” (unsent draft to Congress, April 1789) “… the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” (April 30, 1789) - Pray concerning the Dangers of Socialism and International Dependence.
“Can you consent to wade through the vile mire of dependency, and owe the miserable remnant of that life to charity, which has hitherto been spent in honor? If you can—GO—and carry with you the jest of Tories and scorn of whigs—the ridicule, and what is worse, the pity of the world. Go, and be forgotten! (Letter to the Officers of the Army, March 12, 1783) “’Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.” (September 19, 1796)
As we conclude our appeal to Heaven, let us join in Washington’s Prayer for the Nation:
“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection…that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.” (June 8, 1783)
With this appeal to Heaven, let’s get out and vote, remembering that
… the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government are, justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.
Your vote matters!
