Happy Fourth of July

Happy Birthday America

Our country was founded on the love of God, the prayers of great leaders, and the prayers of the people. The signers of our Constitution were Christian men who prayed for guidance as our nation was born.

Whether some believe it or not, we do have a heritage of prayer to God.

George Washington was a great man of faith who spent part of every day alone in prayer.  This helped sustain him through the trials of war and conflict.  During the difficult winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, when his troops were in dire need of every provision, eyewitnesses recorded that Washington knelt in a secluded place to ask for God's help.  This image of a president interceding for our country is an inspiration to many Americans.

Our leaders in Congress should be on their knees in prayer instead of sitting on the floor like spoiled babies because they didn't get their way in some vote. 

Part of America's spiritual heritage is a heritage of faith and prayer shared by many of her presidents and other leaders.  From her beginnings to the present day, many of our country's leaders have encouraged its citizens to make faith and prayer a part of their lives.  

On June 28, 1787, when fear and disagreement threatened the framing of our Constitution, and a solution seemed impossible, these words of wisdom offered by Benjamin Franklin marked a turning point in the process.

In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection....Have we now forgotten that powerful Friend?  Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?....I therefore beg leave to move~that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business...

Benjamin Franklin

Constitutional Convention

June 28, 1787

During times of war and trial, our leaders have pointed our people to the one true Helper.  During the height of World War II, President Roosevelt addressed the nation and offered a prayer for what was to be another turning point in world history.

Almighty God, our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free suffering humanity.  Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness to their faith...Help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer.  As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts....

With Thy blessings, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy....Lead us to the saving or our country....Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen

Franklin D. Roosevelt

D-Day Prayer

June 6, 1944

Dear friends, only our prayers are standing in the gap for this country.  A country that God blessed through the years.  It's no secret that our heavenly hedge is getting smaller with each year that goes by.  My heart is always lifted as I read of Abraham and his bargaining with God over Sodom and Gomorrah.

God, if there is only one, will you save this land?

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

Genesis 18:16-33

¹⁶ When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. ¹⁷ Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? ¹⁸ Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.^{[a] 19} For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”²⁰ Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous ²¹ that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”²² The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.^{[b] 23} Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare^[c] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? ²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”²⁶ The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”²⁷ Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, ²⁸ what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
²⁹ Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
³⁰ Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
³¹ Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
³² Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
³³ When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

I was inspired today from an article by Kenneth Copeland

God Bless the USA
Until Next Time
Let's pray and bargain with God to save our country.