Author: John Page 87 of 164

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.

Daniel 2:20-21 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:  for wisdom and might are his:  And he changeth the times and the seasons:  he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:  he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding”

President Washington set the tone early on in his first inauguration speech with the following thought: “it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe.”

He closed with a similar admonition:

“Having thus imported to you my sentiments, as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign parent of the human race, in humble supplication that since he has been pleased to favour the American people, with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of Government, for the security of their Union, and the advancement of their happiness; so his divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.”

One of the hallmarks of our republic is the peaceful transfer of power between our executive leaders.  At our 58^th inauguration for our 45^th president, we expect the same.  Yet, one thing has been askew during these transfers of power.  Over time, we have slowly and steadily taken power away from the One on Whom this republic rests – the Lord.  President Washington knew who deserved, warranted, and required our humble supplication.  He knew who who brought us favour.  He knew who was due our praise for tranquility, security, and happiness.  He knew we must depend upon Him.  He is the source of our power, and any transfer away from a dependence on Him diminishes our prosperity and security.

PLEASE PRAY FOR A PEACEFUL AND PROPER TRANSFER OF POWER IN THIS LAND.  There should be a peaceful transfer of power between men, but more importantly, back to God.

I Timothy 2:1-3 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour”

Section One of the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:

“The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.”

The 115^th Congress began its term earlier this week.  Our 45^th President will begin his term in a couple weeks.  The election is the easy part, but the governing is the hard part.  Whatever time you invested in prayer and fasting for the election should be dwarfed by the amount of prayer and fasting you should invest for the governing.  After all, prayer is an investment that can pay massive dividends.

A week before our nation’s first inauguration, the New York Daily Advertiser announced the following:

“On the morning of the day on which our illustrious President will be invested with his office, the bells will ring at nine o’clock, when the people may go up to the house of God and in a solemn manner commit the new government, with its important train of consequences, to the holy protection and blessing of the Most High.”

May we do the same, on Inauguration Day and every day to follow.

PLEASE PRAY DAILY AND FERVENTLY FOR THE 115^TH CONGRESS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.  We must commit the new government, with its important train of consequences, to the holy protection and blessing of the Most High!

Please go to this link for a sample prayer list for our nation:
https://prayatlunch.us/prayer-list/

I Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As we close out this year and bring an end to a celebration of our nation’s 240^th year, I hope that a few looks back at 1776 during 2016 have reminded you of the importance of faith, prayer, perseverance and humble reliance on the Lord during our nation’s founding.  As David McCullough says in the great work entitled 1776, this nation was formed because of God’s miraculous touch:

“The year 1776, celebrated as the birth year of the nation and for the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was for those who carried the fight for independence forward a year of all-too-few victories, or sustained suffering, disease, hunger, desertion, cowardice, disillusionment, defeat, terrible discouragement, and fear, and they would never forget, but also of phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to country, and that, too, they would never forget.

Especially for those who had been with Washington and who knew what a close call it was at the beginning – how often circumstance, storms, contrary winds, the oddities or strengths of individual character had made the difference – the outcome seemed little short of a miracle.”

As we sometimes feel like we face all-too-few victories, may we look to God for our victory in 2017 as our founders did in 1776.    PLEASE PRAY FOR PHENOMENAL COURAGE AND BEDROCK DEVOTION TO COUNTRY IN THE NEW YEAR.  Not only was our founding little short of a miracle, but our sustainment as a nation over 240 years and through the turbulent last year is little short of a miracle as well.

Joshua 6:20 “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets:  and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”

At daybreak on December 26^th, 1776, General Washington led the Continental Army on a bold surprise attack of Trenton, New Jersey to “rouse the spirits of the people.”  After a Christmas night crossing of the icy Delaware River, the Revolutionary Army successful attacked the British stronghold with almost no losses.  It was described by Yale President Ezra Stiles as a “heaven inspired” move to break the trend of defeats.  The strategic impact of this battle was massive.  The ability of the young nation to continue to strive for independence was “sealed and confirmed by God Almighty in the victory of General Washington at Trenton.” (Stiles)

This and other victories not only magnify the power of God and His hand on this nation, but it also brings with it a substantial responsibility.  The deliverance, salvation, peace, and glory that come with our sovereignty cause us to be “under peculiar obligations to become a holy people unto the Lord our God.” (Stiles)

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO LIVE UP TO OUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES.  Living for God is the least we should do to make good on our peculiar obligations.

For a related though, please see:  https://prayatlunch.us/heaven-inspired/