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This Week’s Devotional Topic
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Do you want God to bless America? Do you pray for that and put feet to your prayers with action? Spiritual blessings for our nation will come through His people as they are committed to Him. God send a revival, let it begin with me, my heart and mind….
Psalms 69:30-32 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
Psalms 85:1-9 LORD, You poured out blessings on Your land! You restored the fortunes of Israel. You forgave the guilt of Your people—yes, You covered all their sins. You held back Your fury. You kept back Your blazing anger. Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside Your anger against us once more. Will You be angry with us always? Will You prolong Your wrath to all generations? Won’t You revive us again, so Your people can rejoice in You? Show us Your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, so our land will be filled with His glory.
Isaiah 57:15 The high and lofty One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
AND as God blesses America, we will be a more effective light to the world.
Matthew 5:9-16 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Do you consider yourself a “Patriot”? Are you proud to be an American? Do you appreciate the liberties we enjoy? We have so many freedoms and privileges, we should be praising God every moment of every day.
Pray for our nation’s leadership. All authority comes from God.
I Peter 2:13-19 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. …Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.
As a citizen of the United States, you could say that we have a dual citizenship. Paul told the church at Philippi where our ultimate allegiance should be…
Philippians 3:18-21 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (Citizens of Heaven) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Dear Lord, we thank you and praise you for this Fourth of July and the independence we are able to celebrate. Please bless our nation and help us all to do our part by praying for the salvation of its people and that you would draw each of us closer to you. Amen.
This week’s Scripture:
Psalms 69:30-32; 85:1-9; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 5:9-16; Philippians 3:18-21; I Peter 2:13-19 and I Thessalonians 4:16-18
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