The fourth of July is coming and you probably have plans of celebrating with your family and friends either with a cook-out or going downtown to watch the parade and fireworks. But what is really the essence of celebrating the 4th of July? Is it just about a day of patriotic pageantry: flags, fireworks and festivities with family and friends? William Astore, a professor and retired colonel of the Air Force, said that the 4th of July is also a day to reflect on freedom: its high price, as well as its sacred meaning on how our troops have historically paid a high price to maintain our freedom, and the leaders who worked hard until independence was achieved on the 4th of July, 1776.
It is, therefore, good to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the sense of freedom that we have experienced and continue to experience. We remember, also, all the people who have been instrumental in allowing us to have our freedom today, the freedom to express our beliefs, our opinions and the way we want to live so long as we respect and follow the law of God and the law of the land which is geared towards the common good, justice, order and peace.
Democracy can be a noble vehicle for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when checks and balances work properly, and when freedom is used responsibly to enhance the common good. The Fourth of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is an appropriate time to remind ourselves of the final line of the Declaration of Independence: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Independence Day Prayer
Lord, we stand today as our forefathers have stood before You in times gone by, Celebrating our history and reveling in all the great things that our country has achieved. On this day, we rejoice in the favor you have graciously given us. We thank you for the blessings of liberty, for this generation, and for the generations to come. We thank you for our independence, peace and for all those who have bravely given their lives in the defense of freedom and justice. We thank you that your gracious and provident hand has given us so much.
Yet as a nation and people, we have not always chosen the right way. We ask you to forgive us for these times. On this day, we commit ourselves to wholeheartedly honoring and serving you. With everything that we are, we lay our lives before you. Make us a generous people, a holy nation, a people set aside to love you forever For the sake of the land of the brave and free, and the peoples and nations of this world. Today, we do not presume your grace for our country. Our land is in need of you, our people are in need of you. May we look only to you this Independence Day, dependent on you. May your Holy Spirit inspire us to work together to meet the challenges of our times with faith, hope and trust in you. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.