[A few days after July 4th I came across this post and prayer by Dutch Sheets. I encourage you to join your faith and prayers together with all those that are interceding for this nation and the nations of the world.]
I will preserve the memory of your name through all generations.
Therefore peoples will praise you forever and ever.
(Psalm 45:17 EHV)
Two hundred forty-eight years ago, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Resolution for Independence, declaring the freedom of America’s 13 colonies from Great Britain. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, which officially announced and explained the case for independence, was approved. On Wednesday, July 3rd, the day after the resolution, John Adams sent the following message to Abigail:
“The second day of July, 1776, will be a memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great Anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward forever.
“You will think me transported [ecstatic] with enthusiasm; but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of light and glory; I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I hope we shall not.”(1)
Adams was spot on, though celebration day turned out to be the 4th, the day the Declaration of Independence was formally approved. Tomorrow, we will celebrate just as he predicted. He was also right about the blood, toil, and treasure it would cost to maintain the declaration. Then, and down through history, many have paid the ultimate price for what you and I will celebrate tomorrow. Washington, when addressing his troops regarding the imminent War of Independence, stated with sobriety:
“The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them.
“The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.”(2)
…[In 1984 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech remembering the soldiers who fought for Pointe du Hoc, off the Normandy Beach, during the D-Day invasion June 6, 1944. Here is an excerpt from that speech:]
“You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you.
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”(3)
On her 248th birthday, America faces another war for her freedom. This war is ideological, but no less consequential. Liberty and the salvation of millions depend on the courage of the spiritual army called the church, the Ekklesia. Intercessors are today’s heroes; your prayers can turn the tide. Like the boys at Normandy, we fight to liberate; and we, too, believe in our cause.
With God as our help, as surely as we celebrate liberty on July 4 and victory over tyranny on June 6, we will one day celebrate victory over this attempt to destroy America and delay God’s great harvest.
Pray with me:
Father, You had great plans for America, and still do. We have given more to the spreading of the gospel than any nation. We have also given more to humanitarian causes than any other nation. Yet, we have lost our way and, like the prodigal, squandered our inheritance and forsaken our destiny. Thank You for the fresh start You have promised. Continue to orchestrate this turnaround and a new beginning. We know that the fate of untold millions still hangs in the balance. We will not relent in our prayers and efforts until we see complete victory. Refresh and refire Your intercessors this week.
And Father, You told us to pray for those in authority; we do so again today. We ask for protection for President Biden, leaders in Congress, and Supreme Court Justices. We especially pray for President Trump, who is so hated. We ask that You keep the hatred of him from resulting in physical harm. We also ask this for the family members and staff of these leaders. Expose EVERY plan, and bring the plan/s to nothing. Keep the watchmen engaged. In Jesus’ name, amen.
www.givehim15.com/post/july-3-2024
- https://founding.com/founders-library/american-political-figures/john-adams/letter-to-abigail-adams/
- Major William T. Coffey, Patriot Hearts, (Purple Mountain Publishing: Colorado Springs, CO), p. 118.
- https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/ronald-reagan-normandy-speech-point-du-hoc/