Author: John Page 85 of 163

Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

On his way to his first inauguration, Abraham Lincoln stopped at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and gave the following address on February 22, 1861:

“I am filled with deep emotion at finding myself standing here, in this place, where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, from which sprang the institutions under which we live. You have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of restoring peace to the present distracted condition of the country. I can say in return, Sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain have been drawn, so far as I have been able to draw them, from the sentiments which originated and were given to the world from this hall. I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I have often pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men who assembled here, and framed and adopted that Declaration of Independence. I have pondered over the toils that were endured by the officers and soldiers of the army who achieved that Independence. I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together. It was not the mere matter of the separation of the Colonies from the motherland; but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men. This is a sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Now, my friends, can this country be saved upon that basis? If it can, I will consider myself one of the happiest men in the world, if I can help to save it. If it cannot be saved upon that principle, it will be truly awful. But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it.  Now, in my view of the present aspect of affairs, there need be no bloodshed and war. There is no necessity for it. I am not in favor of such a course, and I may say, in advance, that there will be no bloodshed unless it be forced upon the Government, and then it will be compelled to act in self-defense.  My friends, this is wholly an unexpected speech, and I did not expect to be called upon to say a word when I came here. I supposed it was merely to do something toward raising the flag. I may, therefore, have said something indiscreet. (Cries of “No, no”) I have said nothing but what I am willing to live by and, if it be the pleasure of Almighty God, die by.”

Taken by itself, this seems like a simple political speech that pays homage to a man-made document.  Yet, in reality it is a humble acknowledgment of our nation’s reliance on Almighty God:

• Lincoln understood that the Declaration of Independence was formed upon God’s precepts. In describing our founders and their creation of our founding document in a different speech, Lincoln said “this was their lofty, and wise, and noble understanding of the justice of the Creator to His creatures.”
• Lincoln clung to God’s provision and power in his life, such that he knew that strength came from Him alone. A few weeks before the Philadelphia speech, Lincoln acknowledged: “Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.”  He felt the same about our nation’s founders.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD RETURN TO A NOBLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CREATOR’S JUSTICE.  He is the rock upon which we were founded and upon which we must return.

Please see the following for Lincoln’s Hometown Farewell Address:
https://prayatlunch.us/bringing-forth-much-fruit/

Please see the following for a reminder of God’s hand in the formation of our founding document:
https://prayatlunch.us/firm-reliance/
https://prayatlunch.us/self-evident/
https://prayatlunch.us/casting-all-your-care/
https://prayatlunch.us/inalienable/
https://prayatlunch.us/rectitude-of-our-intentions/
https://prayatlunch.us/governments-instituted/
https://prayatlunch.us/rooted-and-built-up-in-him/
https://prayatlunch.us/saviour-sufficiency/

Deuteronomy 33:29 “Happy art thou, O Israel:  who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!  And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.”

Psalm 5:12 “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

Psalm 115:9 “O Israel, trust thou in the LORD:  he is their help and their shield.”

In 1980, Colonel (retired) Jerry Bullock, the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Office of the Security Police, wrote the following Security Forces Prayer:

“Lord, you have called us to be guardians of a nation founded on your principles.
Whatever our tasks as Security Force men and women, we do them to serve you and our nation.
We are proud to accept the responsibility of this high calling.
We dedicated ourselves to our vocation, and ask for guidance and courage in aiding our people to live with dignity, in safety and peace.
We know true security comes from your presence, so we pray with the psalmist:
You bless those who obey you, Lord; your love protects them like a shield.
Use us, O Lord, as shields for your people, reflecting your security and peace.”

What a wonderful Bible-based prayer written by the Air Force’s #2 cop!  We are indeed founded on His principles.  We are to perform our tasks to serve Him.  We are to ask for His guidance and courage in living out our calling.  True security comes from Him alone.

With those who protect us calling on the Lord in this way, I feel doubly secure.  In much the same way as President Washington called out – “So help me God” – such a prayer yields to a humble reliance on the One who compasses us about with His shield.

PLEASE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND SAFETY FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS.  As they accept the responsibility of their high calling, we must call out to the One whose presence provides true security.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Psalm 121:2 “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”

Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution states the following:

“Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: — ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’”

On April 30, 1789 at our nation’s first Presidential Inauguration, Robert Livingston, the Chancellor of New York, administered that oath to our nation’s first president on the balcony of Federal Hall.  Importantly, though, President Washington added a key phrase to the end of his oath – “So help me God!”  This short phrase has since become the standard for all forms of public office, and was aligned with Washington’s inauguration speech that clearly indicated a complete reliance on our Lord.  He recognized that he could only faithfully execute his office, and only preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution if he relied upon God.

Regardless of whether we have taken an oath for public office, we must call out “So help me God!”  It is the only way we can properly live our lives.  It is the only way we can discharge our duties.  It is the only way we can have an impact.  It is the only way we can fulfill our responsibilities.

PLEASE CALL OUT TO GOD FOR HELP, IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS.  So help me God – President Washington called out for His help and so must we!

For a related thought, please read:  https://prayatlunch.us/so-help-me-god/

II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”

At noon on the 20^th of January, 2017, Donald Trump became the 45^th President of the United States.  In four different places in his inauguration speech, President Trump used strong Biblical references that should give us distinct hope in the future direction of our nation:

• “We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example. We will shine for everyone to follow.”
  • Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
• “The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
  • Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
• “And most importantly, we will be protected by God.”
  • Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very pleasant help in trouble.”
  • Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
  • II Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil.”
• “And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the wind-swept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they will their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty creator.”
  • Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
  • Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD TRULY GOVERN BASED ON BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re alarmed (that our previous president received a Nobel Peace Prize before essentially doing anything in office while our current president has received nothing but non-stop criticism), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

On April 16, 1789, George Washington left the comforts of Mt Vernon to make the trek to our new nation’s capital in New York City.  Two weeks later, he was to take the oath of office as our nation’s first president.  In his journal on that day he wrote:

“About 10 o’clock I bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life, and to domestic felicity, and with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to express, set out for New York in company with Mr. Thompson, and Colonel Humphries, with the best dispositions to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations.”  He was mindful of his limitations and appreciated the burdens of such a responsibility.

In the first line of his inauguration speech on April 30^th, President Washington stated the following as he trembled in the Senate Chambers of Federal Hall: “Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the fourteenth day of the present month.”  He went on to admit that he was “peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.”

These words and others demonstrate a man filled with humility as he accepted the mantle of responsibility that came with his new office.  This battle-hardened veteran realized that leadership was a weighty burden that no single person could shoulder alone.  He entered this leadership position with the spirit of a humble servant.

Humility prompts leaders to question their assumptions.  It urges leaders to seek outside opinions and lean on wise counsel.  It causes leaders to look outward and upward instead of inward.  It fosters a reliance on others instead of oneself.  It nudges a leader to prioritize relationships.  It inspires the elevation of an organization’s needs over personal needs.  It motivates leaders with the thought that a single leadership shortcoming can cause an organization to stumble.

Humility prevents complacency.  It stirs up passions that abhor stagnation.  It suppresses self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency.  It halts power-hungry careerism and cronyism.  It clips the tendency to strive for personal gain.

In the end, humility carefully guides a leader and an organization towards an excellence that elevates everyone.  May our leaders be wise enough to approach their responsibilities with humility.  May we be the same.  Regardless of our positions, we are to humbly render service to our Lord in obedience to our call.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS TO BE STRUCK WITH A LARGE DOSE OF LASTING HUMILITY.  As they follow in obedience to our nation’s call, may they realize that they alone are not up to the task.