Blessed Nation

By

Shelby G. Floyd

God has truly blessed our country of America over these 234 years. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Psalms 33:12). The United States was founded on the Judeo-Christian principles of morality, ethics and juris-prudence.

The freedom of religion, not freedom from religion was also one of the fundamental bulwarks of our constitution. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” is one of the Bill of Rights vouchsafed to the American people.

At almost every public event, we stand and sing the National Anthem—The Star-Spangled Banner. But what many of us do not realize is that there are actually four stanzas of that hymn-song.

If we were to sing the entire prayer song, we would definitely acknowledge Almighty God in our nation’s founding.

The fourth stanza expresses the idea that it is in God that we have our faith, trust and hope. In case you have never read or sung the entire song, we print the fourth stanza in full:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand  
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation, 
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n—rescued land 
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just, 
And this be our motto--"In God is our trust." 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let us all celebrate America’s birthday while affirming that God is over all nations and that it is from Him that all blessings come. “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Copyright © 2010 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved