America Confesses

Our Father, bring to the remembrance of Thy
people Thine ancient and time-honored promises:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall
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."

We--'This company of Thy people assembled--
would begin now to meet the conditions that will
enable Thee to fulfill Thy promise.

May all of America come to understand that right-
living alone exalteth a nation, that only in Thy will
can peace and joy be found.  But, Lord this
land cannot be righteous unless her people are righteous,
and we, here gathered, are part of America.

We know that the world cannot be changed until the
hearts of men are changed.  Our hearts need to be changed.

We therefore confess to Thee that:

Wrong ideas and sinful living have cut us off from Thee.

We have been greedy.

We have sought to hide behind barricades of selfishness;
shackles have imprisioned the great heart of America.

We have tried to isolate ourselves from the bleeding
wounds of a blundering world.

In our self-sufficiency we have sought not Thy help.

We have held conferences and ignored Thee completely.

---Peter Marshall