I tried to count how many times I’ve heard that phrase in my lifetime, but I got lost trying to cover this year. We make this statement at the end of church services, weddings, funerals, and graduations from Christians schools. We use it to quiet the family before dinner and even to open new sessions of Congress.

In all those contexts, the phrase is gentle. Inviting. Even, benign.

But, I’m not hearing it that way today.

This Thursday is the National Day of Prayer, and I’d like to suggest we use the phrase in a slightly more militant tone. I think we should stand up, look our culture in the face, and say, “Let. Us. Pray!”

Do you remember the movie It’s a Wonderful Life? The young George Bailey faces a terrifying situation when Mr. Gower accidentally fills capsules with poison and demands that George deliver them to a family fighting diptheria. George knows it’s a terrible mistake, but he doesn’t know what to do about it. So, he rushes out to find his father. He runs up the steps, slams through the door of his dad’s office, and ignores mean old Mr. Potter who is sitting in the room.

I think we should be that way, too. Our Father has the answer to all the mess in this world. He is the only one who knows what to do about all the distraught Mr. Gowers, the corrupt Mr. Potters, and the sick-almost-to-death families. As His children, we have every right to crash through the door of political correctness and seek an audience with Him.

And, we better do it. We better gather around school flag poles and on courthouse lawns. We better take a moment in office break rooms, factory parking lots , neighborhood cafes, and local coffee shops. While we still have the privilege many of our international brethren don’t share, we better exercise this right out loud.

This Thursday, and every other day, we better say to the world, Let. Us. Pray!

And then, we better do it.