Scripture:  What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as his inheritance” (Psalm 33:12 NLT).

On July 4, 1776, fifty-six men signed their names to the Declaration of Independence, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in their incredibly audacious quest for freedom. They knew the risks. Had they lost, they would have all been hung as traitors.

How incredibly courageous–even foolish–to thumb their noses at the most powerful empire the world has ever known.  King George III and his mighty Parliament ruled over territories so vast that “the sun never set on the British Empire.” Its huge army–well-trained, well-financed, and well-equipped–should have easily defeated the rag-tag, untrained, ill-equipped, and mostly unpaid American militia.

But God . . .

Historian William Federer posts  excellent articles called “American Minute” online to help us see God’s fingerprints in our national history and give us hope when we flounder. His stories of the Revolutionary War show clearly a divine intervention that blocked the British troops at critical moments, time after time.  The passion that stirred George Washington’s heart and his fervent prayers present a picture of a Moses-like leader. The events that brought us freedom are no less miraculous than those that delivered the Israelite slaves from Egyptian bondage.

Prayer: Father, many of these brave men lost their lives to deliver us from bondage.  Please help us cherish the precious freedom which was bought at so dear a cost.