A Day of Gratitude

The View From Above: Thoughts to Help With Everyday Life

July 4, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

A Day of Gratitude

Today is a day of celebration, as it should be—the 250th birthday of our great country.

And I do mean great—the greatest in the history of the world. I do not mean to sound hyperbolic.

We should be celebrating, and the centerpiece of our celebration is gratitude to God for the founding of our country 250 years ago.

It was a miracle!

We should also be grateful for those who fought, shed blood, sacrificed, and paid the price to establish the freedoms that we so easily take for granted.

As we reflect on the history of our nation, we should also give thanks for all that it has taken to preserve those freedoms.

Our nation has had to stand against fascism, totalitarianism, communism, religious fanaticism, and many other threats from within and without that have sought to undermine the institutions upon which our country was founded.

We also recognize the need for continual vigilance, because those threats have not disappeared.

There is a continuing need for all of us to pray for our national leaders, for the men and women who serve in our military, and for all those entrusted with preserving and protecting our freedom.

As we move forward, all of us together will help determine whether we continue to be the “shining light on a hill” for the rest of the world or allow our great nation to be incrementally weakened as new pressures continue to challenge the fabric of our country.

Let us join together today in prayer and gratitude for our great nation and for the privilege of freedom that we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America.

Scripture Focus

Galatians 5:1

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Today’s Challenge

As you celebrate Independence Day, take time to thank God for His blessings upon our nation.

Pray for our leaders, our military, first responders, and all those who faithfully serve to protect our freedoms.

Above all, remember that while we cherish our national liberty, the greatest freedom we possess is the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

Celebrate this day with gratitude, humility, and prayer—for our country, for its people, and for the God who has so richly blessed it.