On this July 4th, as we celebrate our nation’s birthday, we remind our hearts that God is sovereign over all and give thanks to God for where He has placed us in this world. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are not as free. Many of them worship under cover of darkness, in basements, in abandoned buildings. Yet they worship faithfully. In America we get to proclaim the word of the Lord Jesus Christ freely.
We are living in a world that is lost and dying. We are living in a nation that has its faults. Nonetheless, as Christians we are told to pray for those in authority. We live in a nation in need of prayer. God has placed us here, so today we offer this prayer for our nation.
Heavenly and gracious father, we come before You, sovereignly placed in this country, Lord. We long to hear from You. To experience Your spirit on the move as we worship You. We give thanks and praise and cry out to You, in the same way Your prophets did. In the same way Your son Jesus Christ did. And in the same way the Apostles did.
Lord, we pray for those in authority over us. We pray for this nation, on this momentous occasion that marks our founding.
Father, we are a people wholly dependent upon You. We are a people living in a messed up world. Lord, would You turn our hearts toward our nation? Would you breathe Your revival upon this nation? Would You imbue something within us that we would be the influence You desire? We pray to be Your agents and that we would change the direction of this place. We know that no civil authority will ever be righteous, only the Lord Jesus Christ and the name of the covenant God will be righteous. Father, change our direction enough to turn toward You so that Your common grace would abound in this place.
We have so much to be thankful for. Allow our hearts to focus on those things which are good and praiseworthy and lovely. We need You. This nation needs You. This world needs You. May all people learn of Your grace and goodness by hearing the whole gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed.
We have so much to be grateful for. We pray for our nation. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Hat tip: Corey Green, July 2, 2023