America Reads the Bible is a nation-wide event to introduce Scripture to people who have never read it, and to encourage Christians to rededicate themselves to seeking God’s word on a daily basis. Over 400 pastors, speakers, actors, business leaders and politicians will read the entire Bible from Genesis through Revelation, over the course of seven days. From April 19-25, 2026, the readings will be broadcasted live from the Museum of the Bible in our nation’s capital, from 9 am to 9 pm, EST. For more information visit the website at https://www.americareadsthebible.com/. To watch the live stream, you will need to register for a free account at https://app.pureflix.com/login.
Musicians will lead times of worship in between readings. Some notable readers include Franklin Graham, Sheila Walsh, Marty Goetz, Jack Graham, Pete Hegseth, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. President Trump will read an important passage from Second Chronicles on Tuesday, April 21, between 6-7 pm EST. A complete schedule of speakers can be found here: https://www.americareadsthebible.com/schedule
A national effort to read God’s word aloud is an important turning point for the country. It is a public recognition that America was founded on biblical principles and an acknowledgement that God still has authority over this nation, and a purpose for her. Many Christians see a powerful revival on the horizon, but Scripture teaches that this kind of national change happens because believers intervene on behalf of the country, by earnestly seeking God and confessing sin. National cleansing starts in the House of God.
If My people who are called by My name will 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. 2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV
Just as in the time of King Josiah, reading the Bible is a necessary first step for national repentance and rededication to God.
After many years of wicked kings leading the nation astray, King Josiah inherited the throne over Judah. Unlike his predecessors who “did what was right in their own eyes” King Josiah chose to follow the Lord. As such, he sought to honor God by seeing to a thorough cleaning and repair of the temple which had been neglected and misused by the wicked kings preceding him. During the process, the high priest found the Book of the Law, and it was read to King Josiah. The reading of it brought much anguish when the king learned exactly what kind of relationship they were supposed to have with God, how far they had strayed from that relationship and what the impending consequences of their sin would entail (destruction of the nation). The fact that the book had apparently been lost, and that the king was astonished to realize the nation was already slated for judgement, shows that the neglect of God’s word sent the country into a downward spiral that they were mostly unaware of. Recognizing their dire situation, King Josiah humbled himself before the Lord, repented on behalf of the nation, removed idols from the temple and the land, and led the people to follow all of God’s commandments, testimonies and statutes. As a result of the national repentance and recommitment to the Lord, God postponed Judah’s destruction, and granted peace throughout the remainder of King Josiah’s life. And afterward? Well, Judah had a few more kings who went back to idolatry, so God kept his word about judgement. Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. Throughout the Old Testament, God consistently showed mercy and favor when his children were obedient, and judgment when they abandoned him to chase after other gods.
So how does this story pertain to America? We are in a similar situation, where many of the biblical truths the country was founded on, were discarded by generations that followed who decided to “do what was right in their own eyes.”
Our country has problems that cannot be solved by human efforts. But they can absolutely be solved by a supernatural God who loves us, and can intervene as we earnestly seek him. But just as King Josiah had to return to God’s word to figure out how to do that, God’s children in America need to commit to reading his word daily to help us do the same. Then we can expect God to lead us in the ways we should go, both personally and nationally, and to honor his promise in Second Chronicles to heal our land.
May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart this week as you read his word.
On the journey toward home,
Lynn
