Jeremiah 33:6
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal My people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
One of our foremost Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become our nation’s third President of the United States, penned the Declaration of Independence, and also this: “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
The Preamble to our Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” We have just celebrated the 247th birthday of our nation’s Independence but our nation is in turmoil. As we witness strife, violence, and hateful rhetoric broadcast over all forms of media, many of us fear that there is no longer true justice, tranquility, a common defense of our nation, that we no longer promote the welfare of our people, and no longer are the blessings of our liberties secure. For we no longer have a conviction that they are a gift of God. Yes, Mr. Jefferson, I tremble as well, as we all should.
Lord, as individuals and as a nation we have sinned against You. We have been self-centered, taking our liberties and freedom— which are gifts from You—for granted to the point where they are in danger of being ripped out from under us. We have distorted the meaning of liberty and the original authorial intent of the U.S. Constitution. We have put ourselves first above our devotion to You and the care and concern of others. We humbly beg Your forgiveness. We deserve Your judgment, but we ask that You show us Your mercy. Lead us from our self-centeredness and bring healing to our selfish hearts and the heart of our nation so that we would experience Your peace and security once again. In Your mighty name and by Your authority we pray.
Amen.
