It’s an indisputable fact that the nation today is in a downward spiral at all levels. People we were taught to trust and look up to – spiritual leaders, police, teachers and even parents – we now hear about using abuse of all kinds to harm, intimidate and even kill.

Can we wonder why this is happening with so much frequency now? After all, we told God we didn’t need Him in our lives, we didn’t want Him in our schools, government, work place or anywhere else except church. We said we could manage very well without Him.

So how has it turned out? We now have parents killing children, children killing parents and other children and angry people taking out their frustrations by killing others. Is this what we wanted? God promises to bless, protect and guard those who call on His name, and He blessed this land with prosperity, beauty and honor. It was looked up to as a leader of the free world. Now we see what happens when God lifts His blessing; and He is doing just that.

He is not causing the devastation that we are seeing across this land, but He is allowing it because of our turning away. It’s time to turn back and admit we need Him in every area of our lives, not just on Sunday mornings. We need to ask Him for forgiveness for thinking we could live without His protection and blessing. It’s obvious that we cannot do it on our own; we’ve failed in every area.

May 2 is the annual observance of National Day of Prayer and the theme is, “Love One Another, As I Have Loved You,” John 13:34. Mark your calendars now and make every effort to attend, 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Hills Park.