God Bless America

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33:12

  

On the Fourth of July we celebrate our nation’s independence. It is a holiday that was established to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  America declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. I am thankful for the vision and sacrifice of our forefathers who fought for our independence and freedom.

Many people enjoy the day with fireworks, parades, barbeques, picnics, concerts, baseball games, and family reunions. My family likes to gather for a time of eating and fellowship. I remember as a child eagerly awaiting the spectacular fireworks show that was put on at the lake near my grandparent’s home.

While I think the gatherings and celebrations are important on this day something I think we need to pray for is revival in this country.  Our scripture promises that a nation will be blessed if God is the Lord of it. It is apparent from many of the events and decisions being made that God is not necessarily God of our nation. We are far from “one nation under God.”

Let’s claim the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 today for our great nation, “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 I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

I like the words of the prayer below by the great evangelist Billy Graham. Read it and then plan a time of prayer today for our nation as we pray for revival and God’s continued blessings on our nation.

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.  Amen!”

Janet