Monday, July 4, 2016

The blessings of liberty (A prayer for the 4th of July)


   Lord, we stand today as our forefathers have stood before You in times gone by, celebrating our history and reveling in all the great things our country has achieved.  On this day we rejoice in the favor You have graciously given us.  We thank You for the blessings of liberty, for this generation and for the generations to come.  We thank you for our independence, peace, and for all those who have bravely given their lives in the defense of freedom and justice.  We thank You that Your gracious and provident hand has given us so much. 

   Yet as a nation and people we have not always chosen the right way.  We ask You to forgive us for these times.  On this day we commit ourselves to wholeheartedly honoring and serving You.  Make us a generous people, a holy nation, a people set aside to love You forever, for the sake of the land of the brave and free, and the peoples and nations of this world.

   Today we do not presume Your grace for our country.  Our land is in need of You.  Our people are in need of You; our industry and business are in need of You.  May we look only to You this Independence Day, dependent on You.  Please send Your glorious Holy Spirit to breathe new life into the sinews of this nation.  May justice flow like rivers, and righteousness like a never failing stream, until the whole of our country is covered with Your glory, as waters cover the sea.

   We ask all this in the wonderful name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for all eternity.  Amen.

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