PLUS

Psalm 16:1 “Preserve me, O God:  for in thee do I put my trust.”

While in the Pentagon, my boss was ultimately responsible for all acquisition programs in the Department of Defense.  As one would expect, he was a very analytical man who took this massive responsibility seriously.  After all, his daily decisions affected billions of dollars and the future of American weaponry.  In light of this responsibility, the following sign was hung outside his office:

Indeed, in God we should trust.  We should trust Him for our daily mundane decisions as much as we should trust Him for grandiose strategic decisions.  We should trust Him during the difficult times as much as we should trust Him during the good times.  We should trust Him as much in 2016 as our Founders trusted him in 1776.  We should trust Him when we are surrounded by those who doubt as much as we should trust Him when we are surrounded by those who believe.  We should trust Him when we are facing a godless culture as much as we should trust Him when we are in the safety of the church house.  At all times, in all situations, and through all circumstances we must say … In God We Trust!

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO TRUST FULLY IN GOD IN 2016.  All others must bring data, but In God We Trust!

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re alarmed (that many have forgotten that “In God We Trust” is our national motto), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth more grace unto the humble.”

Luke 8:7 “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.”

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

Americans are being choked by the cares, and the riches, and the pleasures of this life.  Furthermore and unlike our Founders, we are filled with pride and self-sufficiency.  The results are painful and predictable.

We are being resisted by God instead of receiving grace.  Moreover, our fruit is suffering.  The seed itself is designed to spring up and bare fruit an hundredfold, but it is being choked by the thorns of our diverted attention and pride.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN LIVES WOULD PROVIDE FERTILE GROUND FOR THE SEED OF CHRIST.  Otherwise, we will continue to choke it.

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re alarmed (that few recognize that today’s societal tension is primarily the result of spiritual decay), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

NOTE:  I will be enjoying a bit of vacation and will provide the next PLUS post on July 31^st.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:  for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

Sergeant Gary Beikirch (the current Chaplain of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic deeds during the Vietnam War.  As you read his citation (http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3226/beikirch-gary-b.php) you will notice that this man is a true hero.  After all, he repeatedly ran towards enemy fire to help his comrades even after being severely injured twice.

Of all the people I have met in my life, Gary Beikirch would be the one who could most legitimately rely on his own strength, his own courage, and his own accomplishments.  After all, this man displayed fortitude that the vast majority of us cannot even comprehend.  Yet, this humble man claims Jeremiah 9:23-24 as his life verses.

In doing so, he doesn’t glory in his wisdom.  He doesn’t glory in his might.  He doesn’t glory in his riches.  Instead he glories in the LORD.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD STOP GLORYING IN OURSELVES AND INSTEAD GLORY ONLY IN THE LORD.  Glorying in God delights Him greatly.

Glory in this!

II Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”

The last line of the Declaration of Independence humbles me every time I read it:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

These great men of our founding recognized that they were not sufficient to the task of forming a new nation.  Their strength was not sufficient.  Their wisdom was not sufficient.  Their courage was not sufficient.  Their military might was not sufficient.  Their economic resources were not sufficient.  Their leadership abilities were not sufficient.  As a result, they did not think any thing as of themselves.

Instead, they trusted in God and firmly relied upon Him.   They rested in His protection for their support.  They recognized one important truth that often times alludes a culture that breeds and promotes self-sufficiency.  They recognized that their sufficiency was of God.

Similarly today, our sufficiency is of God whether we realize it or not.  The sooner we give up on self-sufficiency, the sooner we can rely on the One who is far more able than we are.  Saviour-sufficiency trumps self-sufficiency in every situation.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO TRUST IN THE SAVIOUR INSTEAD OF OURSELVES.  He is sufficient, not us!

SET YOUR ALARM:  If you’re alarmed (at the extreme divisiveness in our nation that even puts public defenders at risk), set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

For related thoughts on the last line of our Declaration, please see:
https://prayatlunch.us/carrying-a-weighty-responsibility/
https://prayatlunch.us/casting-all-your-care/
https://prayatlunch.us/firm-reliance/

I Corinthians 4:7 “For who maketh thee to differ from another?  And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?  Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

This nation is remarkable and exceptional.  Regardless of what some detractors may say about this City on a Hill, it has been a beacon of light in a world often characterized by darkness.  Yet, I Corinthians 4:7 offers us two important intertwined warnings about nationalism and pride:

• What we have, we have received. The gift of liberty and prosperity in the form of the United States of America has been given to us by God and by a long line of faithful citizens.  Some provided a vision; some provided a sacrifice; some provided innovation; some provided generosity; some provided community; some provided charity; some provided leadership; some provided service.  Yet, all built upon a foundation and within a context only possible through the blessings of God.  As our founders properly demonstrated, may we never forget that what we have, we have received.

• Because we have received what we have, we should be humble and not prideful. Our glory should be directed to God through humble thanksgiving.  It is He that made us to differ from another.  It is through His gifts that this land was made possible and made prosperous.  The moment we take credit for this great land is the moment that we rob God of His rightful glory.

I am filled with pride in this great land, but such pride needs to be properly funneled towards the One who deserves the real credit.  PLEASE PRAY THAT NATIONALISTIC AMERICAN PRIDE WOULD ONLY BE DIRECTED TOWARDS GOD HIMSELF.  After all, He is our real Founding Father!