PLUS

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.

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/