Fourth of July Message

A Fourth of July Message from the National Day of Prayer Task Force by Kathy Branzell President National Day of Prayer Task Force

Psalm 82:1-5 "God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah. Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken."

This weekend we celebrate America and the many blessings we have been given by simply being born here. America and Americans are far from perfect, but we are blessed and prayerfully on the path to becoming better.

On July 4th, 1776 our Declaration of Independence was adopted; creating an America that believed among many things, "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 . . ."

We were founded as a nation believing and acknowledging God; our Creator, the image of God in all people, and the reality that God created us equally and is the giver of rights that no one can take away. These rights have Biblical roots and are defined and designed by our Creator. Their meanings are not susceptible to constantly changing social, political or cultural changes but are our standard, given by an unchanging God with unchanging commands, such as, "Love one another as I have loved you."

Sadly, even as these eloquent words were penned in 1776, they were not a reality. Going back over three-thousand years as Psalm 82 was God-breathed and penned, God needed to address the sin of oppressing the weak and overlooking the afflicted. This sin has a deep root that can only be destroyed through an abundant application of the love of Jesus by His followers.

Declarations, documents, memes, and social media posts will not amount to anything, unless they move us to ministry that reshapes our culture and reconstructs our relationship with God and with one another.

What has God put on your heart to pray, and do, to declare His love?

Has He called you to:

help feed the hungry,
visit the prisoner,
teach children

Has He called you to help provide a supportive relationship and resources to someone who is afflicted, fatherless, has suffered the loss of a spouse, child, or is in a situation coming from ungodly choices they need deliverance out of?

Do you know someone gripped by the hand of the wicked or do you have a friend who needs you to journey with them out of darkness?

Do you have influence to make changes in our educational, political, criminal, employment, economic or social systems?

Do you see political or societal mores that need changing to meet the Biblical standards of righteousness?

Are you known as a person who will speak up, then step up with lovingkindness to bring about Biblical, sustainable solutions?

It is vital that we pray for ALL of these, but in certain times of prayer you have probably heard God say, "I've heard your prayer, now get out there and work for change."

He wants to use you as an instrument to be someone's answer to prayer, to make His will a reality.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the "least likely" took the risk, time, compassion, and cost upon himself to help another person. That is exactly what Jesus calls us to do. Love is a a noun but it is also an action word! It is a call to each person of faith in Jesus to be transformed by our faith and strengthened by God's empowerment when we have placed our lives at His feet.

Over this 4th of July weekend, we want to encourage you to prayerfully celebrate the blessings of America; to thank God for America and for your blessing to be an American.

Then ask Him to show you the opportunities He has given you to serve Him in the mission field of your neighborhood, or of your work place, or of your social circle, or of the political sphere of your community or even of your church.

Ask Him what the mission and purpose of your life as a Kingdom citizen is to be. Ask Him how you can be a missionary to America for such a time as this.

Would you please unite in prayer with us now?

Lord Jesus, thank you for the many blessings of living in America. We are not a perfect nation or people, but as we lean in to listen to your Word and will, and as we look and listen to one another with love, we are assured that You will guide and guard us.

Show us where You would have each of us make a difference and bring God-designed and defined change to those around us and to our land.

You created each of us uniquely, for Your purposes and plans. Show us Your specific mission as we continue to cover America and one another in unified prayer.

God please bless America, our "home sweet home," until we are transformed as a nation into a place where your word is honored and your purposes are served and your Son is honored as our Savior and our Lord.