Prayer for Independence Day

Dearest Father in Heaven, who 234 years ago blessed the world with the United States of America, we lift up to You our hearts and souls and minds in worship. Bless us with Your holy presence in our country, we pray. Keep our hearts and minds stayed on the things that will bring forth even greater blessings than we have seen so far. Bless us that we might be found to be faithful not only to the Gospel call to make disciples of all nations, but faithful as well in preserving the freedom that we have so that others may enjoy its blessings as well. Bless us with the strength to fight against all the enemies, foreign domestic, and spiritual, that threaten our country and our God given freedoms and rights. Bless us with wisdom and discernment, Lord, that we might always be able to know Your will. Bless us with being able to tap into You, the unlimited source of energy and love. Hear the collected prayers of all Your children who are earnestly, fervently praying for this greatest of all nations, this nation that You brought forth, working through our Founding Fathers and Mothers to enshrine in our Founding Documents--the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution--the freedoms that Your Son, our Savior, Christ Jesus assured to us all by His sacrifice on the Cross. Bless us that as we read Your Holy Word, we learn the lessons that are presented especially in the Old Testament where the Israelites would wander from You only to find themselves conquered and taken into exile before they turned back to You. Bring us back to You, Lord, by an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit on all Your faithful children. Bless us with unshakeable confidence in the proclamation of the Gospel, spreading it to those who may have never heard it or have only heard a distortion of it. Bless us that we may truly be Christ to all with whom we come in contact, loosening our tongues to boldly proclaim Your love, mercy, and grace to all. Bless us that we do not proclaim and then behave as if we do not believe that proclamation. Thank You, Lord, for all You do for us each and every day as individuals, as communities, and as a nation. Thank You for all who came before us who sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors to follow Your leading in creating a free country. Thank You for those living today who still make those same sacrifices. Thank You for 234 years of freedom and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that You have given to us and please help us to assist You in many, many more years of the same. In the name of the one whose name we bear as Your children, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.