Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing this burden for the nations and for leaders. Your heart to see God rule, to see evil restrained, and to see those in authority guided toward justice reflects what Scripture itself teaches us to pray.
The Bible is clear that the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, and that He is sovereign over all. At the same time the earth is in rebellion against Him. God has given men free choice, and when men and nations exercise that choice apart from Him, they can choose evil to rule over them. That is why we cannot blame God for the violence and corruption we see. He is not the author of evil, but He does allow human responsibility, and He remains able to turn the heart of a king like a stream of water wherever He wills.
This is why prayer matters so much, and why Scripture gives it a clear order and purpose. Prayer was never meant to be a tool for getting our own will done on earth, but for seeing God's will and God's kingdom done on earth. We often think of prayer as a way to persuade a reluctant God to see things our way, but the real thrust of prayer is to align our hearts with His purposes and to ask for what He already desires.
And for prayer to be effective, it rests on relationship. When through faith in Jesus Christ you can truly say Father, you have entered into that relationship as His child, and that opens the way for confident prayer. Jesus alone is the way of salvation, and there is no other name by which we are saved. If someone has not yet come to Him, the first prayer God desires to hear is simply, God be merciful to me, a sinner. That prayer establishes the relationship, and then all of the glorious privilege of intercession is opened.
With that foundation, your prayers for leaders are exactly what God calls His people to do. We are urged to make prayers and intercession for all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness, and because God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth through Jesus. To pray for the salvation of leaders and for justice in their governance is to pray directly according to His will.
You also pray for restraint of evil and for protection from the schemes of the evil one, who is a liar and has been a murderer from the beginning. It is right to ask God to frustrate evil plans and to deliver people from temptation and from evil, as Jesus taught us to pray. God does restrain evil in this present age, and He has given authority to His people to stand against it in prayer, yet we also know that the full binding of evil awaits His appointed time. Until then, we do not give up, but we continue steadfastly in prayer.
That kind of praying does not always change the outward circumstances immediately. David prayed while he was still in the cave and his enemies still pursued him, yet his prayer ended in confidence and victory because God ministered assurance to his heart. Often in prayer the Spirit brings comfort and confirmation that God has heard, and we can rest in His faithfulness and righteousness even while we wait for His answer.
So continue to bring the nations before Him. Ask that He would draw leaders and peoples to salvation in Christ alone, that He would restrain what is evil and guide what is good according to His perfect will, and that His Church would be faithful as a house of prayer for all nations. He hears the intercession of His children, and He uses those prayers to accomplish His purposes on the earth.
May the Lord strengthen you as you intercede, give you peace as you trust His sovereignty, and keep your own heart centered on His will and His glory.
The Bible is clear that the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, and that He is sovereign over all. At the same time the earth is in rebellion against Him. God has given men free choice, and when men and nations exercise that choice apart from Him, they can choose evil to rule over them. That is why we cannot blame God for the violence and corruption we see. He is not the author of evil, but He does allow human responsibility, and He remains able to turn the heart of a king like a stream of water wherever He wills.
This is why prayer matters so much, and why Scripture gives it a clear order and purpose. Prayer was never meant to be a tool for getting our own will done on earth, but for seeing God's will and God's kingdom done on earth. We often think of prayer as a way to persuade a reluctant God to see things our way, but the real thrust of prayer is to align our hearts with His purposes and to ask for what He already desires.
And for prayer to be effective, it rests on relationship. When through faith in Jesus Christ you can truly say Father, you have entered into that relationship as His child, and that opens the way for confident prayer. Jesus alone is the way of salvation, and there is no other name by which we are saved. If someone has not yet come to Him, the first prayer God desires to hear is simply, God be merciful to me, a sinner. That prayer establishes the relationship, and then all of the glorious privilege of intercession is opened.
With that foundation, your prayers for leaders are exactly what God calls His people to do. We are urged to make prayers and intercession for all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness, and because God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth through Jesus. To pray for the salvation of leaders and for justice in their governance is to pray directly according to His will.
You also pray for restraint of evil and for protection from the schemes of the evil one, who is a liar and has been a murderer from the beginning. It is right to ask God to frustrate evil plans and to deliver people from temptation and from evil, as Jesus taught us to pray. God does restrain evil in this present age, and He has given authority to His people to stand against it in prayer, yet we also know that the full binding of evil awaits His appointed time. Until then, we do not give up, but we continue steadfastly in prayer.
That kind of praying does not always change the outward circumstances immediately. David prayed while he was still in the cave and his enemies still pursued him, yet his prayer ended in confidence and victory because God ministered assurance to his heart. Often in prayer the Spirit brings comfort and confirmation that God has heard, and we can rest in His faithfulness and righteousness even while we wait for His answer.
So continue to bring the nations before Him. Ask that He would draw leaders and peoples to salvation in Christ alone, that He would restrain what is evil and guide what is good according to His perfect will, and that His Church would be faithful as a house of prayer for all nations. He hears the intercession of His children, and He uses those prayers to accomplish His purposes on the earth.
May the Lord strengthen you as you intercede, give you peace as you trust His sovereignty, and keep your own heart centered on His will and His glory.
