Today as we celebrate Independence Day in America, I am reminded how much we need to be praying for this Nation. We were originally founded on Godly principals and our Country was formed with desperate prayer by people seeking freedom....we have fallen far from this foundation, and currently teeter on the edge of total destruction. We once had a covenant with God as a Nation, and now we stand alone, having taken him out of our schools, our Government, and our hearts.

Today, I pray for America Lord, please forgive us for our pride and arrogance. Help us to see how far we have traveled from your side. We need your perfect covering, your strong hedge of protection Father. You yourself, must be an impenetrable ring of fire around us, keeping our enemies at bay. Without you Lord, we have no way to stand.

Be our strong tower...forgive our prideful rebellions...draw us back to yourself through the power of your perfect Spirit. Have compassion on us Lord...so many have grown to maturity entrenched in arrogance, raised by a generation who are ignorant to your ways...these children have not heard of your name, nor ever been told about your truth...allow us time to reach these little ones Father, grant us your favor.

And there are others Lord, older ones, who sit in retirement homes, unaware of the impending danger, of the approaching death sentence...who need time to be reached as well. They have decades of dysfunction covering their hearts Lord...give us more time to peel away all that is not of you, and to set them free to accept the only true freedom; your Son, Jesus.

I know that we have rejected your ways, that we are a disobedient people, but have mercy on us Lord. Just as you did when you sent Jonah to the great city of Nineveh. Send prophets with your truth Lord...make a way, set our Nation free.

Even if it means breaking us, taking us to our knees in sorrow Lord...once we are on our knees, turn our hearts back to you. Bring repentance forth from our spirits, and conviction into our lives so that we may turn and leave our old ways behind us Lord, and run back to you
We have been self serving and indifferent to the pain and struggle of others in our midst...we need your Lordship and your guidance...we need hearts filled with your love.

Thank you Father, for saving me through the precious blood of your son Jesus, and thank you for stirring my heart to stand in the gap for those who do not yet know you. Your word says that you listen to the prayers of the righteous, and because of what Jesus has done for me, I stand righteously before you...Father hear my prayers, and save these people, they are like sheep ready for the slaughter...have mercy Lord, for they do not know what they are doing. Your Holy Spirit has the power to change hearts from stone Lord, I have seen you do it! Please, changes these hearts for You...let there be a great revival Father...a multitude of new fruit for your kingdom...Hear my prayer O Lord, and have mercy on us all. Rend our hearts Lord, and turn them back to You!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" - Galatians 5:1

But we have not stood, we have wavered, we have indulged in our own desires...we have gladly made idols out of money, power, prestige and performance..."But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you bite and devour each other, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other." - Galatians 5:13

Look around you, honestly...Do you see humble service for one's neighbor, or do you see biting and devouring...

Won't you join me today, Stand with me and pray...stand in the gap for our Nation, plead with God for His mercy, and let Him use us to turn hearts back to Him, the only place where there is true freedom.