FOURTH OF JULY PRAYER Charlie Robinson
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, AS WE STAND AT THE 244TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY, WE CONFESS OUR NEED OF YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE FACE THE FUTURE.
WE EACH HAVE OUR HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE THAT IS AHEAD OF US-BUT YOU ALONE KNOW WHAT IT HOLDS FOR US, AND ONLY YOU CAN GIVE US THE STRENGTH AND THE WISDOM WE WILL NEED TO MEET ITS CHALLENGES. SO, HELP US TO HUMBLY PUT OUR HANDS INTO YOUR HAND, AND TO TRUST YOU TO SEEK YOUR WILL FOR OUR LIVES DURING THE FUTURE.
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S UNCERTAINTIES IN THE DAYS AHEAD, ASSURE US OF THE CERTAINTY OF YOUR UNCHANGING LOVE
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S INEVITABLE DISAPPOINTMENTS AND HEARTACHES, HELP US TO TURN TO YOU FOR THE STABILITY AND COMFORT THAT WE WILL NEED.
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S TEMPTATIONS AND THE PULL OF OUR STUBBORN SELF-WILL, HELP US NOT TO LOSE OUR WAY BUT TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR SIGHT, REGARDLESS OF THE COST.
AND IN THE MIDST OF OUR DAILY PREOCCUPATIONS AND PURSUITS, OPEN OUR EYES TO THE SORROWS AND INJUSTICES OF OUR HURTING WORLD, AND HELP US TO RESPOND WITH COMPASSION AND SACRIFICE TO THOSE WHO ARE FRIENDLESS AND IN NEED. MAY OUR CONSTANT PRAYER BE THAT OF THE ANCIENT PSALMIST: “TEACH ME, O LORD, TO FOLLOW YOUR DECREES; THEN I WILL KEEP THEM TO THE END.”
WE PRAY FOR OUR NATION AND ITS LEADERS DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES AND PRAY FOR ALL THOSE SEEKING TO BRING PEACE AND JUSTICE TO OUR DANGEROUS AND TROUBLED WORLD. PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, RACIAL STRIFE AND A FAILING ECONOMY. HELP THEM TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WE PRAY ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR PROTECTION ON ALL THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR ARMED FORCES, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS, EVEN AT THE COST OF THEIR OWN LIVES. BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ASSURE THEM OF YOUR LOVE AND CONCERN FOR THEM. WE ALSO PRAY FOR PROTECTION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AS THE RISK THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT US.
BRING OUR DIVIDED NATION TOGETHER AND GIVE US A GREATER VISION OF WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US TO BE. YOUR WORD REMINDS US THAT “BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.” LORD, PLEASE MAKE US AWARE OF THE PAST. PLEASE HELP US TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF PAST GENERATIONS’ SINFUL INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND CONTINUE TO PUT AN END TO THE EFFECTS OF THOSE SINS. I PRAY FOR THIS GENERATION TO NOT PASS ON PATTERNS OF HATRED BUT INSTEAD BREAK THESE CYCLES BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND CONDEMNING THE SINS OF THE PAST AND LEADING THIS AND THE NEXT GENERATION INTO RIGHTEOUSNESS. GIVE US ALL WISDOM ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN JUSTICE, EQUALITY, PEACE, RESPECT, AND LOVE, VIEWING EVERY PERSON AS THE BEARER OF YOUR IMAGE.
AS WE LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS TO US – FAR BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE DESERVED. MAY WE NEVER PRESUME ON YOUR PAST GOODNESS OR FORGET ALL YOUR MERCIES TO US, BUT MAY THEY INSTEAD LEAD US TO REPENTANCE, AND A NEW COMMITMENT TO MAKE YOU THE FOUNDATION AND CENTER OF OUR LIVES THIS YEAR.
WE ARE REMINDED THAT YOUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE IN HAVING A UNITED CHURCH IS THAT YOUR NAME IS GLORIFIED AND WE CAN WITNESS TO THE LOST WORLD BY BEING UNITED WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE GOSPEL. HELP US TO PURSUE HARMONY AND PEACE SO THAT WE AFFECTIONATELY LOVE AND CARE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE FAITH SO THAT IN DOING SO YOUR NAME WILL BE GLORIFIED, YOUR CHURCH WILL BE RADIANT AND SINNERS WILL COME TO KNOW YOU FOR YOU ARE IN CONTROL,
AND SO, OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PROMISE AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT WITH EXPECTANCY AND FAITH. THIS I ASK IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WHO BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION HAS GIVEN US HOPE BOTH FOR THIS WORLD AND THE WORLD TO COME.
AMEN
Fourth of July Prayer
