This July 4th, We Pray for All

In the predawn hours of a sleepless Sunday morning in early June, I wrote my column for today. At the time, little did I know what was happening at the same time in Orlando, Fla.

Please forgive the grammatical errors you may see. In no way do I boastfully say that I understand the structures of the Psalms and how they were written. I only know that God placed these words on my heart to share with you.

My objective is simple— Lord, help us all, less we should all fall.

Lord, we have not been, nor are we, what we ought to be towards Thee and towards one another.

Our hearts, individually and collectively, have strayed so very far from Thee.

As a people who have strayed, we have all contributed to the seemingly demise of a nation.

Through our selfishness we have turned a godly treasure into a paradise for sinners and hatred.

Among us, who is without sin or without fault?

Among us, who can say we have followed Thee faultlessly?

God, we worry about our enemies and what they will do to us.

Yet because of our self-created blinds, we fail to see that we are our worst enemy.

Our pains, our heartaches, our hopelessness and our helplessness, were created in our own crucibles.

Yet from the very beginning we’ve had answers to all our woes. You, Lord.

Lord, forgive us. Forgive us, Lord, from our terrible and horrific mistakes.

We cry out collectively for the healing of our nation and for all who call it home.

Lord, raise up among us, men, women and children who will lead us towards Thee.

Raise up among us people with character, perseverance and a strong abiding love for Thee.

Let us see your beautiful calm skies again. Keep from us the fretful storms on the horizon.

Let us see, anew, simply Thee, O precious and steadfast Lord.

O, Lord, I cry out to thee. Today I pray not for me, but for we, the people and a nation.

O Lord, I cry out today that you would forgive us, heal us and make us a nation undivided.

Create in us, hearts of love and hearts of compassion for one another.

Create in us, an undying heart for our Creator, our Forgiver, and our Sustainer.

This July 4th, we pray to Thee, O Lord.

This July 4th, we pray for our nation.

This July 4th, we pray for one another.

This is our humble prayer.