Today is Independence Day in the United States, celebrating the signing of our Declaration of Independence 240 years ago. (Recently our Canadian neighbors also celebrated their national day.) Today we honor not only the courage and vision of those who won our independence, but we also should pause to thank God for the many ways He has blessed us as a nation.

Has God given up on us? Have we abandoned Him so completely that He has now abandoned us? It could happen, of course. From time to time God’s people in the Old Testament deliberately turned their backs on God and refused to heed His call to repent—and as a result they suffered the terrible consequences of God’s judgment. The Bible warned, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you'” (2 Chronicles 12:5).

But in spite of the evils we see all around us today, God has not abandoned us. He is still at work, and even in the midst of the confusion and conflicts of our age, countless people are seeking Him and turning to Him. God—not Satan—is sovereign, and Jesus’ words are still true: “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17).

On this special day take time to pray for our country—especially as election season approaches. Thank Him for His blessings in the past—and pray especially that we may heed His voice and follow Him in the future.