Prayer for the 250th Anniversary of the United States

(Inspired by Isaiah 65:17–25)

God of all nations,

Creator of every people,

we come to you with grateful hearts.

We thank you for this land we call home.

For its beauty and its bounty,

and for its abundant resources

that have shaped and sustained us.

We thank you Lord

for this nation that we love.

For the ideals upon which it was founded,

and for the resilience that has carried it 

through times of trial and testing.

We began as scattered colonies,

holding to a vision of freedom and justice for all.

Through struggle and prosperity

we have grown into a great nation.

Yet today, Lord, we stand at a crossroads.

What we have become

is not all that we are called to be.

Teach us to remember the guiding principles

that first gave us life.

Help us to live them faithfully

in this moment before us.

Teach us how to love our country

as it deserves to be loved.

Not as better than others,

but in solidarity with them.

With humility, not pride,

and with generosity, not comparison.

You promise a new heaven and a new earth,

where sorrow fades 

and peace endures.

Let that promise take root in us today.

Where there is division,

help us find connection.

Where there is strife,

help us find common ground.

Where there is fear,

plant trust in our hearts.

Make us a people who build with care,

who work with honest hands,

who honor the dignity of every life.

Make us a nation that listens,

that serves, that seeks the good of all.

When times feel uncertain,

remind us of your vision of a world restored,

a people renewed,

and creation at peace.

Strengthen us in faith,

root us in hope,

and guide us in love

so that 

the United States of America 

may reflect your vision and goodness

down through every generation.

Amen.