Today most of America will watch the Super Bowl - some motivated by the excitment of the game and others by the humor of the commercials. With an ever-increasing scope, Super Bowl Sunday has almost become a national holiday.

One of my favorite parts of the big day is the pre-game show when a celebrity is invited to sing the national anthem. This musical segment of the programming is usually accompanied by an array of uniformed officers carrying flags and a climactic finish with fighter jets flying over the stadium.  Having traveled to other parts of the world, I can honestly say that I am proud to be an American. Just being born in this country provides you with advantages that most of the rest of the world's population will never experience. So anytime I hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung, I am moved to again thank God for the place I call home.

But America is in a war - one even more dangerous than what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are in a war for souls. This nation, founded on faith, seems to be growing more and more disconected to our spiritual heritage each day. But we have the power to stop this spiritual landslide and restore a solid foundation in America. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 communicates the power that prayer has to affect change on a national scale:

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

So my challenge for us today is to spend at least a small portion of our Super Bowl experience lifting up a prayer for the millions in this country who are watching. They are not only watching the Super Bowl - they are also watching us to see what impact our faith has on our life. Let's give them something worth watching, and let's give God prayers worth hearing. He longs to heal our land, so let's humble ourselves and start seeking His face in prayer.

Making It Personal:

• How often do you pray for our nation during your prayer time?
• How can you incorporate a 2nd Chronicles 7:14 prayer in your life this week?