Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

Well, the month of June just seemed to zip past us and here we are ready to celebrate the Fourth of July!!
A verse that is found in II Chronicles 7:14 has always been one of my favorites. It says,

“If my people who are called by name, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

This week, we will be celebrating our independence. It will be our day to stand tall and proud to be an American.

We live in a land, that if we really think about it, has been very blessed in many ways. During these last almost 250 years, America has become a great power. Sometimes though, we look around and we wonder about our country because of the many different situations that happen today in this land we love.

In the scriptures, we know that God tells us to go to Him when we are heavy laden; when we are loaded down with concerns about our country’s future. Even though we are blessed here in America, we still have things that get in the way, we still have problems and yet Jesus tells us that we can have our loads lightened and our burdens lifted by God.

Let us humble ourselves and pray this prayer for America during this time that we celebrate our freedoms.

Heavenly Father, we come to you with humble hearts, and pray for our country. May you forgive our many sins, give us leaders who follow your wisdom, and help us to lead others to Jesus. We pray for you to bring restoration to America, grant us peace in our hearts, and heal our land. In Jesus name, AMEN