Thank you brother Chuck Akeley for this awesome July 4th post! God Bless you and yours Chuck! Happy 4th of July!
INDEPENDENCE DAY – JULY 4, 2019
Today we celebrate Independence Day! It was in 1870 that the US Congress established the fourth day of July as a national holiday, acknowledging the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation, separate from Great Britain.
As a result of the American Revolution, which began in April 1775, the Continental Congress formally declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776 and the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776.
Nowadays, celebrating Independence Day means a day off from work, demonstrating to family and loved ones our amazing expertise at the BBQ grill, attending parades and enjoying fireworks. All of these things are wonderful(!), but we should never forget that the freedom we enjoy isn’t shared in many other countries of the world and it came at a price. It was paid for in blood, sweat, tears and prayer, and often, at the expense of the lives of those willing to fight against an oppressing force. Simply signing the Declaration of Independence was an incredible act of bravery.
In the second paragraph of the declaration, the thirteen united states acknowledged our Creator, affirmed the equality of all men (and women), made it clear and that our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were “unalienable”…meaning they flow from and are granted by God (not men).
“WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”.
As a Christian, I’m reminded that the spiritual liberty we enjoy in the United States of America also came at a price. Our salvation was paid for in blood, sweat, tears and prayer, and at the expense of the life of Jesus, our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and Friend. Let us remember that where the Spirit of the Lord is…there is freedom [2 Corinthians 3:17]!
There could be no better time that today to bend our knees in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank You for our country and our leaders, past and present, who acknowledge Your hand in our government from the very beginning. Thank you for all the men and women – who then and now – demonstrate the courage and wisdom to stand for the views and ideals found within the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and more importantly, the Kingdom of God! We lift up our governmental leaders, including President Trump, Vice President Pence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, all of our legislators, the Supreme Court justices, governors and local officials, asking for Your protection and that the wisdom of God would infiltrate and inform the decisions of our governmental leaders and representatives, elected and unelected, and that our civil laws and ordinances would be in alignment Your will, as contained in the Bible and within us through the witness and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We repent right now, without hesitation, from pride and disobedience. Thank You for Your blessing upon our country. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Praise Jesus forevermore!
Regardless of your political viewpoints, I pray that we can all agree that our country must have the guidance, direction and blessing of God to continue to shine the light of liberty to all!
Chuck Akeley, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“Child of God, Worshiper, Husband, Daddy, Son, Friend and Musician”