Devotion and Prayer – 06-22-17 by Barbara Moore
We are soon
to celebrate our country’s birthday on the 4th of July so it’s my
pleasure to share some thoughts about it.
We are the only nation on the face of the earth to be founded upon a
creed, the Declaration of Independence, where we acknowledged Almighty God, set
forth our ideals, and proclaimed our identity.
Our beloved
President Ronald Reagan stated it this way, “The day of our nation’s birth in that
little hall in Philadelphia, was a day on which debate had raged for hours…To
sign the Declaration of Independence was such an irretrievable act that the
walls resounded with the words ‘treason, the gallows, the headman’s axe,’ and
the issue remained in doubt. (But) On
that day 56 men, a little band so unique we never have seen their like since,
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Some gave their lives in the war that
followed, most gave their fortunes, and all preserved their
honor…In recent years, however, I’ve come to think of that day as more than
just the birthday of a nation. It also
commemorates the only true philosophical revolution in all history…ours was a
revolution that changed the concept of government! Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder
that here in this land, for the 1st time, it was decided that man is
born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience
created and managed by the people, with NO powers of its’ own except those voluntarily
granted to it by the people. We
sometimes forget that and we never should.”
Let’s pray
today the words of Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of our Declaration of
Independence: “Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage,
we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of
Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless
our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us
from violence...pride…and every evil way.
Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude
brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues… In time of prosperity, fill
our hearts with thankfulness, and, in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust
in Thee to fail, all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
