Today many conservatives are celebrating the National Day of Prayer (NDP) in the United States. The United States has been observing a National Day of Prayer since 1988 and the original purposes of the day:
- Pray for America
- Pray for Safety
- Pray for our leaders
Earlier today Pres. Trump gave his National Day of Prayer speech, it didn’t take long for the president to return to his desire for earthly greatness for America and attack others, all while claiming he was sent by God. I wasn’t surprised because like a lot of conservatives, he doesn’t understand the purpose of prayer or the ways of God.
Prayer’s focus and purpose is to seek God’s will, it’s an opportunity to talk to God, not to show off before men. Prayer humbles us because it acknowledges God is great and in control, not us. The problem is people have unfortunately gotten prayer wrong and backward.
Prayer is about aligning ourselves with God’s will and ways, not about manipulating Him To do our selfish wants like a little genie in a bottle. God constantly reminds us to humble ourselves to come to Him in prayer because He is great and Holy as a just God (2 Chronicles 7:14, Lamentations 3:40-41).
We must humble ourselves because we cannot be proud when we pray to God. God’s people are to practice the ways and virtues of God (Proverbs 4:23, 2 Peter 1:5-7).
What Are Virtues
Our virtues are one of the easiest signs of following God and not the ways of this world. Virtue is defined as, “Conformity to a standard of right; morality.” Christian virtue is higher than moral beliefs, is a spiritual alignment with the ways and will of God as opposed to the ways of this world.
Our virtues influence our values. As a Christian man, I pay close attention to the way a woman prays and talks, because her prayer life and words reveal her heart, when a person pays more about what they want or achieving their dreams, then they aren’t focused on God’s will or practicing His virtues.
King Solomon gives us tips about a virtuous woman and her worth (Proverbs 31:10-31). Being virtuous is a serious matter for being the church and the Bride of Christ. We must be different and have different values than the world.
Our virtues are what separate God’s people from this corrupt and fallen world (Deuteronomy 7:6, Romans 12:2). God will judge the world because of their lack of virtues and sinful ways (Romans 2:5-8).
As God’s people, we must do more than just know the virtues of God, we are to practice them and live them out daily (Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:1-2, Colossians 3:12-14, 2 Peter 1:3-8). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about the virtues and ways of God.
Ḥayil
The ancient world was corrupt and didn’t follow the ways of God; they listened to their flesh and hearts of stone. Their focus was earthly greatness and temporary happiness.
God set apart His people from the world to be a holy and virtuous nation to help change the world from it selfish ways (Leviticus 20:26, Exodus 19:5-6.) The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for virtue is ḥayil and it can also mean, “Strength, valor, wealth, or virtuous,” depending on the context it was used in.
As we look at the depth of virtues in Judaism, we can better understand how God’s virtues are strong and mighty in a spiritual sense, but not an earthly way. Throughout their journey in the wilderness and the ancient world, God’s people experienced and learned the virtues and attributes of God. That is why Judaism emphasizes practicing the virtues of God:
- Acts of lovingkindness
- Compassion
- Contentment
- Courage
- Love
- Justice
- Peace
- Mercy
- Humility
When Jesus established His earthly ministry, He reminded His followers of the Jewish virtues and ways of God through His Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12). Jesus emphasized humility versus greatness (Matthew 11:29; 23:12, Luke 14:11).
Jesus emphasized the need for God’s people to deny themselves instead of listening to their hearts and flesh like the fallen world (Matthew 16:24, Mark 14:27). Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being proud and not being like God (Matthew 23:1-39, Luke 18:9-14.)
Jesus corrected His disciples for seeking earthly greatness and wanting to be like the rulers of this world (Matthew 20:25-28.) Jesus wanted His followers to focus on the Kingdom above, not earthly greatness (Matthew 6:20, Luke 12:33).
Trump’s First 100
In other big news this week, President Trump celebrated his first 100 days of his second term. The president gave an interview with ABC and bragged about his successful accomplishments since returning to office and how he was making America great again.
Pres. Trump’s virtues and values contradict the basic teachings of Jesus, he and his followers are obsessed with earthly greatness instead of the will and ways of God. Perhaps that’s why God humbled the president by shrinking the US economy for the first time in three years. We know the economy isn’t becoming great because of the factors of the shrinking economy:
- Negative GDP growth
- Declining consumer confidence
- Slowdown in job growth
If there is any silver lining to President Trump’s first 100 days, it is his declining approval rate. Polls show that more and more Americans disapprove of how the president is running the country.
My hope and prayer is more Americans and conservatives are realizing President Trump cannot save America or make it great again. It is also my prayer that Lord willing God’s people will humble themselves and turn from their idolatry of earthly greatness and return to our true Savior (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Because that is the only way God will heal our nation. To do that we need to change our ways and practice God’s ḥayil!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In