Overcoming Human Nature
Thoughts and Prayers from Jerusalem
Shalom from Jerusalem!
After Rabbi Alexandri finished his prayers, he said: "Master of the Universe, You know that we want to do Your will, and nothing stops us but the evil inclination and evil kings. May it be Your will, God, that you subdue them from before and behind us, so that we may return to do Your will with a full heart."
Brachot 17
Rabbi Alexandri ingeniously defends human nature by citing only two factors that cause us to sin, which God can ostensibly defuse. But upon closer scrutiny, it is clear that these two factors encompass all causes of sin, as they typify internal urges and external forces!
As with most prayers, by praying this one to God, we are also addressing ourselves. If the "evil inclination" is no more than two short words, and "evil kings" are merely yesterday's headlines, then we can focus on God's will and succeed.
Today, focus on the positive, and the negative will take care of itself.
Today's Prayer: Nehemiah's Prayer (Nehemiah 9)
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