African Methodist Episcopal Church Fifth Episcopal District Women’s Missionary Society Bi-Monthly De

July

The month of July is the seventh month in the calendar year, the number that is known biblically as the number of completion. On July 4th America celebrated its legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain. We call it Independence Day. Yet on this same day, July 4, 1852, Fredrick Douglas delivered a scathing attack speech on the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating freedom and independence. His speeches, parades and platitudes while within its borders, revealed that nearly four million humans were being kept as slaves. Reference: The History Place, July 9, 2017, via internet http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/douglass.htm.

Let us go and celebrate freedom, free to live a life that has been ordered by God Our Heavenly Father and not by mere man. Although, had it been left up to certain men or group of persons, we would still be shackled and enslaved.

“’So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed’” (John 8:36, NIV)

As we remember and celebrate Independence Day, God Our Father wants us to be totally dependent upon Him and no other, because He will always be with each and every one of us. For example, in the book of Esther versus 3-7, (it says Esther's dependence on God came from her confidence in God's providential guidance. Esther answered with faith and dependence upon God. "I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther 4:16. Esther asked Mordecai to ask all the Jews to fast for three days - and she would have her maidservants do the same. Then she would approach the king. Esther was not relying on her own beauty, influence, or persuasive powers. She was relying on God. She believed that God was in control). Reference: Bible-Lessons-Study-Plans, July 9, 2017, http://www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com/esther-bible-study.html via internet.)

According to the website, “Prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Freedom”; in which this prayer was taken from and it reads.

Dear Father God, we live in a world where injustice is rife, freedoms are rapidly being removed and persecution of believers is on the increase. We come to You Father to lay before you men and women we may know personally, who have had their freedoms removed, together with the thousands of believers, whom we do not know. Lord - each one is precious in your sight, for each one is a blood-bought child of yours.

Be with all who are suffering injustice and loss of their freedoms, whether through government restrictions or groups that are intent on harming those that belong to you - and give wisdom to the men and ministries that are seeking to support those that have been affected in this way.

Lord we know that only when Jesus returns will true justice be restored and true freedom be established. Keep each one of Your children under the protection of Your wing, and may all who trust in Christ find their rest in Him – knowing that He is able and willing to support in time of need and to help in time of trouble - for He is our ever present)…AMEN: Reference: July 9, 2017, (http://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-Freedom, via Internet,).