One Nation Under God

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

Do you know the phrase “one nation under God?”
Do you know how it came to be a part of the United States Pledge of Allegiance?
Do you know what it means?
Are we still “one nation under God”?
What does it really mean?
And are we still living up to it today?

One Nation Under God

Did you know that the United States Pledge of Allegiance did not originally include the phrase “one nation under God”? 

According to ushistory.org, the Pledge of Allegiance was written by socialist minister, Francis Bellamy in August 1892. It was originally published in The Youth’s Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy wrote it with the hope that citizens of every country will use it, not just the United States of America. 

The pledge originally read, “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” In 1923, the phrase, “the Flag of the United States of America” was added. At that time it read, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In 1954, President Eisenhower, due to the Communist threat at the time, encouraged Congress to add the phrase “under God”. This led to the creation of the 31-word pledge we say today. 

Today, it reads:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

What does it mean to be one nation under God?  

Firstly, it is a declaration that in America, God will be recognized and not rejected. Not only will He be recognized as the living Creator who guides our affairs, but the clear implication is that, as one nation under God, we will intentionally submit our lives and government to His sovereign will, while acknowledging Him as the Creator and sustainer of all things, and the giver of the freedom we enjoy. 

President Eisenhower was a wise man. He recognized that “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1) 

He understood that if America was to remain a great nation, we must protect the fact that we are one nation under God. 

As we prepare to exercise our patriotic duty to vote in the upcoming election, let us do it in gratitude for the freedom that God has given us – and let us be guided by His Spirit and His Word in all things. 

Let our vote affirm the fact that we are still one nation under God. No matter who wins, let our attitude demonstrate our understanding of Romans 13:1 which says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

If we believe that we are one nation under God, then we must also believe that God will select the person He wants to lead the nation, whether he chooses this person to bring blessings to us or to discipline us as a good father does. We must accept His will and know that He who loves us knows best.  

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the wisdom to vote according to His will for the United States of America, and the grace to accept the outcome, knowing that all authority is ordained by Him.