Week of Monday June 29 – July 5
In God We Trust – Man as Chaplain
"Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." - Psalm 16:1 KJV
I have enjoyed walking through the U.S. Capitol and seeing our Christian heritage displayed in its magnificent paintings and inspiring statues. One of my favorite places is the Congressional Prayer Room, a quiet sanctuary that few visitors ever have the privilege of entering. Dominating one wall is a beautiful stained-glass window portraying General George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge. Above him are Abraham Lincoln's immortal words, "This Nation Under God." Framing the scene are the words of Psalm 16:1 from the King James Version: "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."
Installed in 1955—one year before Congress adopted "In God We Trust" as our national motto—the window beautifully captures the spiritual foundation upon which America was built. Before there was confidence in ourselves, there was confidence in God. Before there was national strength, there was humble dependence upon the One from whom all strength comes.
General Washington understood that well. That’s why he rode out to the woods in the unforgiving winter at Valley Forge, dismounted and knelt in the snow, crying out to Almighty God to intervene on our behalf in the struggle for liberty. He understood that the only way he and his struggling army had a chance of survival let alone victory against the greatest military in the world was for God of Hosts to step in. The iconic image captures a profound truth about leadership. Every man eventually reaches circumstances where experience, determination, and personal ability are no longer enough. Every leader discovers that there are battles which can only be won on our knees.
David knew that long before Washington. Although remembered as Israel's greatest warrior-king, David wrote, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." He didn’t put his confidence in his own military skill, the strength and courage of the men around him, or in their weapons or in their battle plan. He asked for God's protection because his confidence rested in the Lord Himself. David understood that the safest place in the world is not behind high walls or superior weapons or more numerous warriors, but beneath the shelter of Almighty God.
It is a great reminder that the strongest man is not the one who needs no help. The strongest man is the one who knows exactly where to run when trouble comes. David ran to God. So did Washington. Throughout our nation's history, those leaders who guided America through her greatest crises consistently acknowledged their dependence upon divine Providence. Their confidence was never focused on the nation itself, but upon the God who rules over nations.
As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, we rightly thank God for the extraordinary blessings He has poured out upon our country. But anniversaries should also prompt self-examination. The future of America will never be secured merely by a stronger military, though that is prudent. Our nation will endure only as long as we recognize the Source of our blessings and humbly place our trust in Him.
That same principle applies to every Christian man. Before we can influence a nation, we must first lead our homes. Before we stand courageously before men, we must learn to kneel humbly before God. Our wives, children, and grandchildren need to see that our confidence rests not in ourselves, but in the Lord.
The image in the Congressional Prayer Room quietly reminds every visitor of a truth our generation desperately needs to recover. Above Washington's bowed head are the words, "This Nation Under God." Surrounding him are David's ancient prayer, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." Together they point to the same enduring reality: the security of a man and his family—and the strength of a nation—are found only when our trust is placed in Almighty God.
In God We Trust – Man as Chaplain
"Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." - Psalm 16:1 KJV
I have enjoyed walking through the U.S. Capitol and seeing our Christian heritage displayed in its magnificent paintings and inspiring statues. One of my favorite places is the Congressional Prayer Room, a quiet sanctuary that few visitors ever have the privilege of entering. Dominating one wall is a beautiful stained-glass window portraying General George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge. Above him are Abraham Lincoln's immortal words, "This Nation Under God." Framing the scene are the words of Psalm 16:1 from the King James Version: "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust."
Installed in 1955—one year before Congress adopted "In God We Trust" as our national motto—the window beautifully captures the spiritual foundation upon which America was built. Before there was confidence in ourselves, there was confidence in God. Before there was national strength, there was humble dependence upon the One from whom all strength comes.
General Washington understood that well. That’s why he rode out to the woods in the unforgiving winter at Valley Forge, dismounted and knelt in the snow, crying out to Almighty God to intervene on our behalf in the struggle for liberty. He understood that the only way he and his struggling army had a chance of survival let alone victory against the greatest military in the world was for God of Hosts to step in. The iconic image captures a profound truth about leadership. Every man eventually reaches circumstances where experience, determination, and personal ability are no longer enough. Every leader discovers that there are battles which can only be won on our knees.
David knew that long before Washington. Although remembered as Israel's greatest warrior-king, David wrote, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." He didn’t put his confidence in his own military skill, the strength and courage of the men around him, or in their weapons or in their battle plan. He asked for God's protection because his confidence rested in the Lord Himself. David understood that the safest place in the world is not behind high walls or superior weapons or more numerous warriors, but beneath the shelter of Almighty God.
It is a great reminder that the strongest man is not the one who needs no help. The strongest man is the one who knows exactly where to run when trouble comes. David ran to God. So did Washington. Throughout our nation's history, those leaders who guided America through her greatest crises consistently acknowledged their dependence upon divine Providence. Their confidence was never focused on the nation itself, but upon the God who rules over nations.
As we celebrate America's 250th birthday, we rightly thank God for the extraordinary blessings He has poured out upon our country. But anniversaries should also prompt self-examination. The future of America will never be secured merely by a stronger military, though that is prudent. Our nation will endure only as long as we recognize the Source of our blessings and humbly place our trust in Him.
That same principle applies to every Christian man. Before we can influence a nation, we must first lead our homes. Before we stand courageously before men, we must learn to kneel humbly before God. Our wives, children, and grandchildren need to see that our confidence rests not in ourselves, but in the Lord.
The image in the Congressional Prayer Room quietly reminds every visitor of a truth our generation desperately needs to recover. Above Washington's bowed head are the words, "This Nation Under God." Surrounding him are David's ancient prayer, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust." Together they point to the same enduring reality: the security of a man and his family—and the strength of a nation—are found only when our trust is placed in Almighty God.
- If your family watched your life this week, would they conclude that your confidence rests primarily in God or in your own abilities?
- As America marks 250 years of independence, what role can you play in helping your family become a household that truly puts its trust in God?
- Pray and ask God to help you cultivate a heart that looks to Him in moments of need and that communicates to your family the necessity of trusting in God.