In a matter of a few days, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, our Nation will turn 250 years old. I remember when we celebrated our Bi-Centinial Birthday on July 4, 1976. I was a seminary student in Ft. Worth, Texas at that time. We had a big celebration then. This year America will have an even bigger celebration than before. Already our Country is meeting at the Great American States Fair on the National Mall of Washington, D.C. as States have set up displays of the great events in their own States that have brought U.S. this far, displayed in front of the Washington Monument there in D.C. People are here not just from each State in the Union, but from all over the world as We are also hosting the World Cup Soccer Games, and players and fans have come from all over to see and enjoy this wonderful Nation of ours. Yes, we’ve got problems, but so does everyone else, and it seems that over the many years since our formation in Philadelphia Hall in 1776, we have always been able to settle our differences and come together as a Nation to celebrate together the Freedoms that we enjoy. You know, as I’ve heard many times over the news, the people of the world have expressed how much they have enjoyed the hospitality and friendliness of Americans, the Big Gulp at Buc-ee’s, and the great American food, including Texas Barbeque, of course, and the particular American salad dressing that everyone wants to take home, Ranch Dressing! I pray that none of them will experience any of the ugliness of those whose love for America has grown cold and unforgiving.
As we celebrate this Country’s Birthday, I offer to you a prayer prayed by Dr. Peter Marshall who served as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate during the War years of World War II, during the years of 1947 to 1949. This prayer is entitled, “Prayer For America”.
“Our Father, we pray for this land. We need Thy help in this time of testing and uncertainty, when men who could fight together on the field of battle seem strangely unable to work together around conference tables for peace. May we begin to see that all true Americanism begins in being Christian; that it can have no other foundation, as it has no other roots. (And if I may add, America cannot be Christian, unless “I” am Christian; America cannot be forgiving, unless “I” am forgiving; and America cannot be strong in The Word of Truth, unless “I” am strong. I pray that each of us will be strong in Thy Truth, so that America will be strong.) Thou didst bless America. Thou hast made her rich. Wilt Thou also make her good?
