Thursday, July 4th
Day 68
The Constitution of the United States of America was ratified in 1788, went into effect on March 4, 1789, and has held for 235 years and 4 months and lest we forget, it was not an easy process. There was disagreement then just as there is disagreement now. Life is messy and people are people. We make mistakes but hopefully we learn from those mistakes and go forward to use the lessons learned.
Let us remember the words of Benjamin Franklin as he spoke of the work that went into forming this document. He didn’t claim it was perfect but believed it was necessary to the government of this new nation that God had brought forth.
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that, the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.
In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people is well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.
-Benjamin Franklin, September 17, 1787
The Constitutional Convention: A Day By Day Account For September 1787
On this day when we celebrate our nation and all it stands for let us remember that the work continues and we are called to pray for our country and choose leaders who stand for what is honest, good and true. And in the end each of us will be held responsible for our own actions – did we follow God or follow the culture?
Lord, I pray for this nation, a nation like no other, where people come seeking freedom, freedom to work for a better life, freedom to worship as they choose, freedom to live up to their potential. I have been praying for this nation for a ling time because I have been worried for the future of America. But Lord I have learned to trust You, to trust in Your plan. You brought this nation into being. You will preserve it or You will allow it to destroy itself. You will not force us to choose Your way but You will not bless us when we go our own way. Whatever the outcome – I choose to serve You, to trust You.
I still remain faithful in prayer for my country. I pray that her people will recognize what a gift freedom is. I pray that they will come to know the “SOURCE” of our freedom – for to be free in Christ is to be free indeed.
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