The IFI staff and I want to wish you and your family a safe and blessed Fourth of July weekend as we celebrate our nation’s 237th birthday and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

I want to encourage all god-fearing patriotic Americans to  take time to pray and reflect over where we are as a nation and what we can do as individuals to stand for freedom.  We would do well to heed the words we’ve so often heard and read:

…if my people who are called by my 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

And as you petition the Lord, pray that the Body of Christ would truly become the salt and light that we are called to be in our culture. Pray that our nation would be blessed because God is our Lord.  Pray for those brave soldiers scattered throughout the world who are willing to place their lives on the line to defend our freedom.

I encourage you to remember the One who created and continues to preserve us as a nation.  Remember our rich Christian history and thank God for it.  A nation that does not remember where it came from or what it’s foundations are, is easily destroyed by its enemies either from within or without. And history has taught us — more often than not — nations are destroyed by enemies from within rather than from enemies from foreign countries!

A great way to do that is to simply read the Declaration of Independence out loud with your family some time this weekend.

Pray that God will continue to have mercy on America, and preserve religious liberty!