Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12 (NIV)
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1 (NIV)
“It is the duty of all nations, to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” George Washington, First President, 1789-1797, and referred to as the “Father of Our Country.”
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us. We have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that some superior wisdom and virtue of our own produced all these blessings.” Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, called for a day of prayer in 1863.
“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time. Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christians. I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” Thomas Jefferson– American Founding Father, principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and 3rd American President from 1801-1809.
“Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.” Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father of America
Tomorrow, Americans from all walks of life will celebrate Independence Day, a day that marks our nation’s birth and the beginning of our journey toward freedom. Many will have neighborhood parades, backyard barbecues, and picnics with family and friends. This celebration also brings forth patriotism in our country and reminds us that the sacrifices made by our ancestors should always be remembered with respect and honor. Despite our political and cultural divisions, we are still a nation of hardworking and decent people who love this great land. May we never forget that the freedoms we enjoy today have been paid for by men and women who have fought to keep our country free. We owe such a debt of gratitude to these brave patriots.
America has always been a beacon of hope for those wanting a better life. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of that hope. In the Bible, Jesus speaks these words in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” As the Statue of Liberty liberates the citizens, all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will gain a liberated soul filled with eternal hope. Because of the Cross, we can live a life of faith and trust in Someone and something much bigger than ourselves. Because the Cross has liberated us, we are comforted by the assurance of an eternal home when we leave this world.
As we celebrate our country’s birth, let us not forget to include God in our celebrations and express our gratitude for His many blessings, for it is only through His grace that we have come this far. May God bless America, and may America bless God. I pray He will heal our land and guide us with His light from above.
Prayer: Dear Father, Creator of the world and all who are in it, we acknowledge Your sovereignty. It is You, and You alone, whom we trust. Thank You for placing me here in the United States of America, the land that I love. Thank You for our Founding Fathers, who birthed this nation based on Your principles and precepts. Their words give us hope that our country will return to You and honor and worship You again. Forgive us, Lord, for we have drifted far off Your intended course. Please heal our land and unite us under Your banner. Help us to show Your love to those around us. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I very much love this. I love my country, even with all its warts and blemishes. Yes, there are many things that need to be fixed, many injustices that need to be corrected, many problems solved or at least addressed in constructive ways. The first and greatest step in addressing these needs is to turn back to God in repentance, acknowledging our own sins and the sins of our nation. When we take that first step, we will certainly find that God will meet us more than halfway. Like the father of the prodigal, He is looking for us to come home. Today may we start on that long journey home.
Thank you for your insight and comments. As I read them, my first thought was of the song, “Softly and Tenderly.” As a young girl, this song was often used during the invitation, or as we called it back then, the “altar call.” I, too, pray that our nation will turn back to God and come home to His leadership. The turnaround must begin in each heart. Since nothing is impossible for Him, we will continue looking upward for strength to do our part in shining for Jesus. It is the only hope for the world and for the country that we love so much.
“Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!”🎶🎶🎶
Softly and Tenderly
Will L.Thompson, 1880