Independence Day is a special day for Americans. Also known as the 4th of July, it's a beautiful time to celebrate our nation's founding. Many celebrate with barbeques and fireworks. Others celebrate the month with parades. still others celebrate through prayer, reflection and flags.
It is a day that not only helps us reflect on our nation’s founding of the Declaration of Independence but also its founding’s and our gift from God to help us in the great commission. Matthew 28:16-20 NIV " "The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The 1607 Covenant made by Reverend Robert Hunt reflects this gift.
originally posted at: https://1607covenant.com/
"The 1607 Covenant made by Reverend Robert Hunt Reverend Robert Hunt when the first English settlers landed in Virginia in late April, 1607“They planted a rough-hewn wooden cross, which they brought from England, in the sand and prayed.”
For more information you can visit the 1607 Covenant.com website (link below) and read the prayer.
The theme is carried out by our nation’s founding fathers.
originally posted at Britannica.com
“Declaration of Independence, in U.S. history, document that was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and that announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain.
The Lord God Almighty is recognized and referenced more than one time. But one reference to the our Creator in the famous line many American heart's have memorized since we were children.
originally posted at: Archives.gov
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
So in a world where we see corruption, ignorance and ugliness are at various levels we need to hold on to those truths. We are reminded to do so through scripture to pray and ask the Lord for his intervention his supernatural intervention, His holy, faithful, loving, sovereign, creating intervention because after all he is GOD. As scripture reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV The Apostle Paul writes “ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” So, it is important to pray not only for the government but for all people. And James 4:2 “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” So this is another bold reminder that we are to ASK our Heavenly Father for our his intervention in our lives. So it is crucial we do the same thing for his involvement in government.
We know from Biblical history the early Israelites although they saw miraculous things of God through Moses (the 10 plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea etc.) they still doubted and grumbled. They wandered the wilderness for nearly 40 years before entering the Promised land. Some even talked of going back to Egypt to live as slaves but God was faithful to the people and full of mercy but there was a powerful lesson to be learned. I admit that is a long time to walk especially in the same sandals , as Deuteronomy 29:5 tells us the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet." I'm very grateful that the Lord Almighty put me on the earth now, (as I'll bet each of us reading this will agree.) We also know from Deuteronomy 2 :14-15” 14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.” Historical and biblical facts show us how the trip could have taken much shorter, but God had a plan. And it was carried out but Joshua and the next generations was that the plan from the beginning? Scripture points us toward the answers, did the Lord have another plan? Only He knows.
There is a great map of the wanderings here
So, we see in scriptures powerful reminders from God for us to keep looking to him for direction. Keep looking to him for help. A reminder to keep praying asking for the Lord God Almighty for his intervention for our nations, our families as well as our communities. Ask him to search and heal your heart where wounded or calloused. As we are part of his plan today so we should learn from the scriptures of what God wants to remind us through his WORD that we find in the Bible.(Matthew 5:13) 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Here are some powerful prayer points to help us pray.
Remember to pray to God regularly, boldly, humbly with salt and most of all from the heart in Jesus’ name because our promises are through him alone. He is the spotless lamb without blemish, he alone could atone for our sin and bring us back into a relationship with him. As author, Pastor, theologian Mark Dever states it so eloquently as he tells about this "good news" or "gospel" (from the Greek evangel) The pastor tells in his book 'Nine Marks of a Healthy Church ' ( how Jesus) "... presented his completed work to his heavenly Father, who accepted Christ's sacrifice, thus declaring his wrath against all of his own people exhausted. God now sends out his Spirit to call us through the message of repentance and faith to trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins." We are also reminded of the importance to continue in abiding in the Lord's teachings daily as Luke 9:23 reminds us of the importance of continuing our walk with Jesus every day ""Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”"
Intercessors for America share some beautiful prayer points for praying for our nation
Originally posted from IFAPRAY.org
The Lord Almighty is the Creator of all things, including government ( Isaiah 9:6) He created three institutions to care for us- family, church and government. His heart is for all to experience godly governance. The branches of American government model his character: (Isaiah 33 :22)“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.”
For the Lord is our Judge :
This what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right…” (Isaiah 56:1) Pray for the Judicial Branch ( Supreme Court) would establish and maintain just laws.
For the Lord is our Lawgiver :
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (Deuteronomy 28:1) Pray for the Legislative Branch (Congress) would enact laws that follow God’s commands.
The Lord is our King :
See a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. (Isaiah 32:1) Pray for the Executive Branch (President and his Administration) would reign in righteousness.
Thank you, And may God continue to Bless America To find out more about Intercessors for America visit them at IFAPRAY.org and get involved. Special thanks and Courtesy of:
BibleGateway.com Pastor Mark Dever Dever, Mark (2021) Nine Marks to a Healthy Church Available at : https://9marks.myshopify.com/products/nine-marks-of-a-healthy-church-4th-edition?_pos=10&_sid=e76900770&_ss=r [ Accessed 07/08/24]
