HUMBLE OUR HEARTS
Bible Prep: Deuteronomy 26:16-29; 28:1-14
"Now it shall come to pass, IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God; Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the country." Deuteronomy 28:1-3
FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PRAYER JOURNAL,
MOUNT VERNON...
"O eternal and everlasting God, increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto Thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in Thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in Thy appointed time to attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life; bless my family, friends, and kindred."
What part of George Washington's prayer stands out to you? His humble and repentant heart shows throughout this prayer. He was a leader who respected and obeyed God's Word. Notice that this excerpt came from his prayer journal. He was a man of prayer. He must have understood the importance of communicating with God regularly. From this prayer, we see George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, was a leader who prayed, relied on God, trusted Him, read the Bible, feared the Lord, repented of sin, had a teachable heart, was humble beyond words, and desired to be more and more like Jesus daily. Oh, how we need leaders today who follow his example!
In Deut. 28: 1, notice the small two-letter word: IF. Do you see where George Washington followed this scripture in his prayer? What an example to all of us to follow. Today, may we as a nation repent, humble ourselves, and run back to God.
Begin your prayer with the one below and listen as the Holy Spirit helps you finish the prayer...
Father God,
Humble our hearts today so that we will hear Your voice. Help us as a nation obey Your voice in everything we say and do. Continue to bless us, O Lord, and give us a compassionate and giving heart toward those around us. Hold us to a higher calling, that we will carefully observe Your commandments and be a "Nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Lord... " (If My People, Pg. 9)
From My Heart to Yours,
Carla McDougal