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PRAYER FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

Lord God, tomorrow the United States of America celebrates Independence Day. There will be barbecues and get-togethers, parades, pancake breakfasts, fireworks and patriotic songs. Media will wax nostalgic over our heritage and yet how many will remember that freedom is not free – it has never been free. It must be fought for and won.

Lord God, You gained the ultimate victory for us that we might have freedom from death and live reunited with You in eternity. Here as in so many instances since, the battle was not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers in the heavenly places which have effect on our natural world.

As we celebrate Independence Day we choose to remember those who have gone before in previous generations: first those who fought for our independence (fighting for many years AFTER the declaration was signed to make sure that the independence so boldly declared was indeed secured) and those who have fought to preserve that same freedom and secure it for others. We thank You, Lord God, for each and every one of these brave souls, for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of their families.

We also thank You for each and every member of our military today as well as for their families. Lord God bless them in ways which reveal that it is You who touches them and no other. Bring them comfort. Relieve their anxieties. Be their protection and provision. Where there is injury, where there has been a death, be the balm which eventually brings healing to body, mind and spirit of the wounded soldier and body, mind and spirit of family members left behind. Lord God, give them a shoulder to cry on, a word of encouragement spoken to their hearts for the future, and the will and strength to persevere until that which is hoped for has come to pass.

As we celebrate today in peace here at home because they fight in the sandbox over there, draw them closer to You, that they may each learn to hear Your voice, know which way they are to go and follow in it – this for increased safety and increased progress in the war.

As a gift for our nation’s birthday, we ask that by the power of Your Holy Spirit at work in this world, You would hand over the leaders of these terrorist groups – including Osama Bin Laden – into our military’s hands. We ask that by our worship and prayers, You would hover over the cities and every acre of land in Iraq and Afghanistan and provide protection for the local citizens who have bravely sought to serve in leadership positions. Give our military leaders time to spend with You and ears to hear Your strategy for this war. Give the leaders of these newly free nations ears to hear Your strategy for their countries and the tools and trustworthy people to implement the plans.

Lord God, You promise if we will worship You, You will draw close, inhabit our praise and accompany us. So we worship. We adore. We want Your plan for our military. We want Your protection, Your provision, Your comfort. We trust in You and bow before You again today. Speak to us. We are listening. Show us the way to go and we will walk in it. Each of us separate parts of one Body with Jesus Christ as Head. Show us each the work You have for us today to encourage our troops and support our nation. Give us the vision so that we will each stand up and embrace the work You have for us today – for Your Kingdom, for Your glory, that Your Light may shine brighter and brighter in the darkness and we may enjoy the fruit of Your promises for those who out of a love born of faith, choose to obey You and walk in Your will.

God bless America! God bless our troops! God bless those who support them! In Jesus’ name, Amen.