He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:8
On this day in 1947, President Harry Truman spoke in front of a joint session of Congress, urging them to continue apportioning financial aid to the countries of Turkey and Greece. Communist forces were taking hold of both countries in the wake of the Second World War, and many members of the newly formed United Nations were sending the two governments financial aid to help them keep these uprisings in check. However, the United Kingdom informed the UN that year that it was unable to keep sending financial aid and the U.S. Congress was considering doing the same. President Truman’s powerful speech swayed Congress, encouraging the U.S. to keep providing for smaller democracies for the sake of peace around the world. His speech, which came to be known as the Truman Doctrine, informs global policies of the U.S. to this day.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For the president and his administration as they provide foreign aid in the shadow of the Truman Doctrine.
- For wisdom for members of Congress as they consider the investments and obligations the U.S. has to other nations.
