Prayer As We Celebrate Our Heritage

Monday August 3, 2020

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE

Here in British Columbia and in many parts of Canada, this is a holiday weekend. The first Monday in August is a statutory holiday in most, but not all, provinces and territories. What's interesting about this holiday designation is that it doesn't have a legislated name but is often given a specific name by a district or municipality. For instance, here in BC it is BC Day, In New Brunswick and Saskatchewan it is also named for the province. It's called Terry Fox Day in Manitoba in honour of the heroic efforts of this athlete and whose legacy has carried on far beyond his lifetime in funding cancer research. In Alberta it's known as Heritage Day and Albertans recognize and celebrate the variety cultural heritage of the province.

What is our personal heritage that we can remember and celebrate?

I remember walking around the local cemetery as a child and young person on "Decoration Day" and not having much attachment to anyone or anything. How different it is a few decades later when I go to visit my Mom and we put some flowers here and there on headstones in that cemetery. Now there are dozens of people there that are my relatives - my father, 2 brothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, neighbours and friends. I know where many of the graves are now and it gives me pause to remember with gratitude so many memories of those who loved me and shared space and time, tears and laughter during my journey here on earth.

Today, let's give thanks for our heritage - a mixed blessing for most of us, of course. Most of all, we thank God for the heritage we have to His blessings through His generous grace and the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.

Well, Heavenly Father, we do give you thanks today for our heritage. For those of us who've had a heritage of folks praying for us and giving us guidance (even when we didn't want to follow it at the time), we are so grateful. Time passes by quickly and the months become years and decades and a lifetime. In the mixture that life on this earth is, so many treasures have come from you through family and friends. Help us today to reflect and perhaps even recognize more of these treasures and build our gratitude base for all that is ours.

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing

over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

because He delights in mercy.

Micah 7:18

We have the heritage of Your repeated and endless forgiveness, God. If You punished us for all the wrong we've had in our hearts and spoken out or acted out, we would be hopeless. But, through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been given Your forgiveness. You do not stay angry forever and You delight in being merciful to us. I pray Lord that we will better understand the extent of that mercy given to each of us and in humble gratitude, live in faithful service to You and others today.

No weapon forged against you will prevail,

and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17

We know that the evil one wants to steal, kill, and destroy. How he'd love to steal our heritage and inheritance. Thank You God for the power and blessing we can apply to the attacks of the evil one today because You are ruler over all and Your word has all the authority we need to change whatever negative agenda is being sent our way. Thank you for the joy we have knowing that no weapon forged against us will prevail. You will silence and expose every false accusation against us. This is our heritage as Your children. What a blessing.

Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111

We love Your Word that is reliable and which stands the test of time. What joy we have as we get to know all the good things You say that direct us, comfort us, and strengthen us in our daily journey. We have been blessed and helped on more occasions than we can remember and list.

This is the heritage we can carry today and build on today and then pass on to the next generation. As Your word instructs us.

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your might.

These words, which I am commanding

you today, shall be on your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your sons

and shall talk of them when you sit

in your house and when you walk by the way

and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

That’s what we want to do today – give thanks for our heritage and faithfully pass it on. Amen