SATURDAY July 4, 2026

Independence Day

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Psalm 33:12

Today we celebrate The United States Semiquincentennial! We are celebrating the 250th anniversary of The United States Declaration of Independence. It is an incredible landmark in our young country’s history. America was founded upon Christian principles and is a nation who has declared, “In God We Trust.” Did you know that “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864? Then a law was passed in July 1955 by joint resolution of the 84th Congress and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower that required “In God We Trust” to be placed on all American currency.

Our future independence rests on those iconic words, “In God We Trust.”  As a nation, do we still have God at the center of our government? Do our schools still teach children that we are “One Nation Under God?” Is God in the middle of our families? Is God dwelling in your heart? What about the Church? Is God’s Spirit moving in our churches, or has His glory departed? We need a revival; it starts with repentance––a turning away from sin. Nehemiah knew this and prayed for God’s chosen people:

“...Lord God of heaven ... You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You ... please let Your ear be attentive ... that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now ... for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You....” (Nehemiah 1:5-7).

Nehemiah’s prayer changed a nation. Change begins with one person. Will you be that one person today? Pray that your heart be solely His, for our great nation and its government. Pray for our schools, families and churches. As you and others pray, may we continue to be a blessed nation––the nation whose God is the Lord––a nation that trusts in God.

Our National Motto - 'In God We Trust' - was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this nation owes homage.
~Ronald Reagan~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!