How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 NIV)
This week is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1776, the colonies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were British colonies under the authority of Great Britain.
The physical distance between Britain and the colonies had been a contributing factor in the tensions that grew as the colonies developed in the New World very differently from the way Great Britain lived in the Old World. Finally, Enlightenment philosophies, the First Great Awakening, and some very strong leadership in the colonies led to the Declaration of Independence. It is one thing to declare your independence and another to fight a physical war to secure it. But after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, the United States of America was officially recognized as independent from Great Britain.
The nation has changed greatly since 1776. Yes, that might just be the understatement of the year, but it is still true.
Where will we be in another 250 years? I don’t know. I can assume we will have continued to change.
But this weekend is an opportunity to remember where we as a nation came from—our roots of freedom, self-governance, and “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It is a chance to get together with family and friends to watch parades or fireworks or share a cookout. It is an opportunity to give thanks for those who have come before us and to remind ourselves of our obligation to steward our chapter in her history well. This weekend is a beautiful opportunity to see strangers and friends, at least briefly, united.
May that be a sweet picture in our minds.
God,
Thank you for the many ways You have shaped and guided these United States. Thank You for Your patience and grace when we have wandered far from Your perfect plans and intentions for us. Thank You for hearing the prayers of Your people who have cried out to You for healing, deliverance, and guidance for this country. May we in this generation be people who pick up that calling and care for her in our time.
We pray for every celebration this weekend—that each would be a place where kindness, patriotism, and goodwill for all are experienced. We pray in the name of Jesus against any and all plans of the enemy to disrupt celebrations or bring harm to those who celebrate. We pray that Your angels would thwart all plans for evil by scrambling communication, drying up resources and money, and causing delays that abort the plans entirely. We ask that You would visit those bent on evil with signs, wonders, and dreams that convict them of this evil and draw them to You.
We pray for Your protection over these celebrations and this nation, in Jesus’ name. AMEN.