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Whether it’s key evangelical leaders turning on Donald Trump or the media’s outright hatred for him, or the other extreme thinking that Trump is their savior, the divide is deep and the damage is damning.
One side asks, “How can you vote for Trump based on his character?” while the other side responds, “The spiritual direction of the country is the most important matter facing us.”
They add: “I don’t want to hear about someone’s character when the other side thinks it’s okay to kill a child, even at nine months.”
A Flawed Protector
Some have used the following analogy to better illustrate their position: The head of a Neighborhood Watch program previously had an affair years ago, but he watched over the neighborhood diligently each night.
He often stood against others on the committee who wanted to enact policies harmful to the neighborhood. He was occasionally gruff and impulsive, and sometimes his words were crass and offensive, but he did a good job during the late-night watches.
And here is the dilemma we find ourselves in: “Would you still want that type of person leading your country?” Some say yes, and others say absolutely not!
The Word that Can Change the Nation
The key to uniting and healing our nation is found in a beautiful and powerful word. Be warned, this word is not popular, but it is powerful. It’s frowned upon in corporate America, but it’s highly esteemed in the courts of God.
This word can restore marriages, rebuild broken homes, and lead people to redemption. It’s the cure for the convicted and the way for the lost, and that word is humility.
Healing and hope will only come through humility. Humility puts God on our side: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Jam. 4:6). Could God be resisting America because of pride? Absolutely!
I’m Hopeful but Not Naive
Granted, I’m not naive enough to believe that Donald Trump could win over Hollywood and the media with humility and meekness. There is a clear spiritual battle taking place in our nation as kingdoms are colliding, but it is possible to bring healing to millions of Americans and their families. Leadership can lead us in the right direction if led by humility.
Stop and simply look at the fruit that is being produced from the pride in our nation. Fruit reveals what seeds were planted (cf. Matt. 7:16) and the stench of our fruit has reached the nostrils of God.
Meek, not Weak Leadership
We need leaders who lead by example – the Biblical example. Humility is life-altering; it changes a nation from the inside out. Imagine if millions of Americans confessed that they have been demeaning and bombastic, and that they want to fix that. Humility is not weakness; it’s meekness (strength under control).
For example, the Hennessey Venom F5 sports car is meek when idling in the driveway, but when the driver hits the gas it generates 1,800 horsepower. That is strength under control; it’s awesome and awe-inspiring.
When the leader of the most powerful country in the world humbles himself, that too is awesome and awe-inspiring because it tilts the favor of God back in their direction.
The Seismic Shift that Can Shift America
Think of the seismic shift that would take place if Trump, and many other Americans, said something along these lines:
“Over the years I have learned a great deal. At times, my passion for change has crossed the line and I became angry. The deception in America motivated me to tweet things that were degrading. I have called people names that I wish I could take back. Going forward, my commitment to America, the country I dearly love, is to work on my shortcomings.
I’m not a perfect man, but I am a committed man—a man committed to our safety, security, and freedom. Going forward I will seek to build up rather than tear down, but I will in no way capitulate to a system hell-bent on destroying us from the inside out!
Pray that I can balance grace and truth no matter where I serve — whether as a Presidential candidate or as a businessman.”
Imagine millions of Americans saying, “Me too!” as deep humility heals many of our wounds. Words like this are not a sign of weakness; it takes a great deal of strength and inner fortitude to humble yourself: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6).
The Healing Balm
As I wrote in a recent article, our only hope is a national awakening that is birthed deep in the prayer closet: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4).
We must ask heaven to come to our rescue, and that begins with humility. Angry tirades won’t get us anywhere, but bended knees will.
America, what’s it going to take to break you? Could it be that God is using much of this to humble us?
We must turn completely to God today. He is the Shepherd of the shattered, the Rebuilder of the broken, and the Defender of the damaged. You’ll be amazed at what God does with the healing balm of humility. {eoa}
Special note: We just had an incredible week at Westside Christian Fellowship in SoCal called Rend the Heavens. We met every night for a week, seeking the heart of God. You can watch all the services here dated between 10/31/22 to 11/6/22.
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Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California. More can be found at shaneIdleman.com, and free downloads of his books are available at wcfav.org. Visit him on Facebook and subscribe to his podcast.
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