Daily Devotional #1,608

On July 3, 1776, the day before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington wrote a  letter to his wife, anticipating the hardships which would soon occur. Here in part are his words:  "In a few days, you will see a Declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty  revolution and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God. I am fully aware of the toil and blood and  treasure what it will cost to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states; yes, through all the  gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory." On this 4th of July we celebrate what those before us  accomplished by the Declaration of Independence and the struggle and sacrifice that came with it. That  declaration ended with these words “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the  protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred  Honor.” The birth of this nation happened on that one day and has continued now for nearly two and a half  centuries. It is unique because it started with a people committed to their God who spent time on their knees in  prayer. It is now our turn. God has blessed us as Americans to have the privilege of being a part of this nation,  its past and now its future. Like those before us let us be remembered as those who gave sacrificial love to our  God, to our families and to our nation and its people. Here’s our Bible verse for today…  
Isaiah 66:8-9 NLT Who has ever seen anything as strange as this? Who ever heard of such a thing? Has a nation  ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem’s  birth pains begin, her children will be born. (9) Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not  deliver it?” asks the LORD. “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God.  
Remember I’m praying for you!  
With love, PJ