A Fourth of July Prayer from Isaiah 42

O Creator God, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who establishes and destroys the nations.

Thank you for sending your Son, who shows us how to best know you by leading us down a road we had not known, faithfully bringing forth justice in all the ways that we had failed to do so before, and making our hopes a reality on earth.

But help us, your people now, who again fail to trust and acknowledge your justice, even though you have laid it out before us. How much worse are we who still hope in that which you have shown to be dust? Who return to our dark prison of violence and who bow before foreign flags?

Bring us to repentance. Restore our breath that comes not from the world's miasmatic air, but from your teaching and Spirit.

May we not fail you again, but may we be the beacon of righteousness that you created and called us to be so that the world, when confronted by you in your fullness, will be unable to say that it has never seen you.

In the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who alone is Lord, and through the power of your Holy Spirit - May It Be So.