An Article of Faith

The following address was delivered in dedication to the public affirmation and display of our national motto: “In God We Trust” Thursday, Jan. 22, at City Hall in St. Martinville by Todd Trahan:
A man once said, “The first responsibility of leadership is to define reality.” If we properly define reality, we can provide leadership that produces solutions to problems and govern according to wisdom. You have properly defined reality here today as a governing body of the City of St. Martinville. In unanimously declaring your trust in God you have spoken words that reverberate in the heavens, over the people and territory called St. Martinville!
The reality is that we need God. There is not a more important reality to define correctly than that.
God recognizes territories and boundaries. He spoke to specific cities in the Bible. He looks down and sees the cities of America – and in light of other cities like New York, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, the city of St. Martinville may seem small but the size of your city does not reduce the importance of your statement made here today.
Today you have made a statement and I would say is the most important statement that you could ever make. “God we put our trust in You.” To say that as leaders of this city – as those who are in positions of authority – is a powerful statement to make because as God looks down on this city and everything that is the jurisdiction of St. Martinville, La., He hears and sees a statement of acknowledgement of who He is and a level of dependence expressed by those who govern.
I believe – though we may never fully know – that this statement will affect much more than you realize. A grace will come from God that would not only affect your governance of this city but even the behavior of the citizens of your city. I believe there will be a natural picture that will be painted that will reflect the spiritual reality that has been created by you who govern this city in declaring “In God We Trust.”
I want to speak now to the citizens of St. Martinville. Scripture tells us that we should pray for those in “positions of authority that we might lead quiet and peaceable lives…” (1Tim. 2:2) I want to encourage the citizens of this city to pray for your mayor and your city council. This is the will of God. They have done their part – now we need to do ours.
You will need the wisdom of God to navigate the future. You have done the best thing you could for the people under your authority by placing your trust in the God who created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. When you understand who you are putting your trust in, then you realize that all you could ever need in the way of wisdom to govern your city, to carry out the role of mayor or city council is available to you in the One in whom you have put your trust.
The days that are coming are days like never before. There will be no conference to go to or consultant that can instruct you in some of what will be faced in the days ahead. Lacking wisdom from God in the days ahead will cost like never before but possessing wisdom and understanding will position you in a way that allows you to make the right decisions in very critical times.
Finally, I want to leave you with this. Something that I believe God would have you hear. And the Lord would say to you, “I will bring back to your remembrance this day when you declared your trust in Me; In those moments when you know not what to do – I will visit you with wisdom and I will visit you with understanding and I will release to you knowledge beyond that which you know. I will teach you how to lean on Me and not yourselves, for did I not say in My Word to “lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your path?” (Prov. 3:5b-6.)
“You have acknowledged Me today and so in the day of your need I will acknowledge you and answer you when you cry out to Me” says the Lord.
Todd Trahan is with Intercessors for Louisiana.

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.