July 4 Celebrated in Prayer Nationwide
A record of over 40 million are traveling for the July 4 holiday, including President Bush who will be spending part of his Independence Day with troops and their families at Fort Bragg. As Americans celebrate with outings, barbecues, and fireworks, they are called to remember the blessings of freedom bestowed by God.
"Each year we look forward to the family gatherings and the grand celebrations that take place across the Nation on the 4th of July," said President Bush in his radio address July 1. "And amid the music and barbeques and fireworks, we give thanks for our freedom, and we honor the bravery and sacrifices of all those who have made that freedom possible."
As U.S. troops remain on the battle lines in Iraq, Christians are fighting spiritual warfare with prayer.
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This week, Global Harvest Ministries is holding their first International Congress with nearly 1,500 Christian leaders gathering to discuss intercession and spiritual warfare. Whether learning how to pray better for the unreached or discussing the rise in witchcraft interest among young people, participants plan to help "get people out of oppression" and ultimately become free, as Doris Wagner, vice president of Global Harvest Ministries, said.
The International Congress on July 6-8 is the first of three congresses being held this year, including one on the "Changing Church," and will be conducted every year. Coming out of years of prayer for Europe, northern Asia and Iran, the 15-year-old ministry plans to target its prayers for the Muslim world to battle for the people in prayer.
In the meantime, a year-round prayer team continues to mobilize millions of Americans to be prayerful for the nation and president, especially on this 4th of July. The Presidential Prayer Team offered pastors a Patriotic Preacher's Sermon Package to deliver an Independence Day message on Psalm 33:12-22: "We depend on the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield."
A new Gallup Poll showed that the majority of Americans are "extremely proud" to be American, with little change over the last five years.
"Among Christians, patriotism and belief in God are tied," said Karen Randau, communications director of the Presidential Prayer Team. "I believe that."
Bush pointed to the "spirit of '76" that lives on today, 230 years after America declared its independence. "We still place our trust in the protections of divine providence," the president said.
As trust is still placed in the divine, Christians encourage fellow believers to remain in prayer for a nation that continues to carry "freedom's torch," as Bush stated.
" ... Evangelical Christians and people who ... believe God gave us this nation, expect us to pray for our nation and our leaders," stated Randau.
