“You can’t explain free government in any other terms than religious. The Founding Fathers had to refer to the Creator in order to make their revolutionary experience make sense; it was because “all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights” that man could dare to be free. They wrote their religious faith into our founding documents, stamped their trust in God upon the faces of our coins and currency, and put it boldly at the base of our institutions. And when they drew up their bold Bill of Rights, where did they put freedom of worship? First, in the cornerstone position. That was no accident.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower

God’s hand has been at my elbow the past few weeks to sit and write a column pertaining to the state of our nation. As a reluctant evangelist, I found many excuses to avoid the task to which I was being called. It often seems futile to write reminders of our nation’s foundation on biblical principles, and to call for courage and conviction of those who profess to be Christians.

But then I realize it is the deceiver who is trying to keep me from doing what I’ve been called to do.

Standing firm in the face of adversity isn’t comfortable. Oftentimes, when we stand up for what we believe in, we stand out. After all, serving a living God and practicing the principles taught in the Bible are not popular in today’s society. In addition, it takes time to study God’s word and know what it means, “rightly dividing the word of truth as one not ashamed” (see 2 Timothy 2:15).

To live as Christ lived requires personal conviction and persistence and, more often times than not, courage. Learning what it means to be a Christian and then doing what we are commanded to do means surrendering our will to what the heavenly Father wants us to do, not doing our own thing. Choosing grace over losing face isn’t popular in today’s society.

Even more unpopular is the concept of sacrificial service.

And yet, it is the very acts of humility carried out by our Lord Jesus Christ that gives us the courage, conviction and power to do the same.

Each and every day, we are called to choices of obedience or disobedience. Moment by moment, we are challenged in how we are going to respond to the situations we face.

As we begin hearing the voices of those who would choose to lead our nation, we need to be praying and seeking God’s face in what he would have us do. We need to spend time in the Word and in prayer, asking him to, once again, favor this nation.

The words of the Lord from 2 Chronicles 7:14 still ring true: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The question arises: Are we willing to obey?

• Amy Torres is a published writer and a spiritual adviser and counselor. She and her husband lead the college ministry at First Baptist Church in Patterson.