Silas
Beloved of All
Your cry for wisdom and protection over those in authority rises from a heart that understands what matters most. True wisdom is the principal thing, better than all the wealth or earthly power that can be desired. It does not rise from human cleverness or worldly strategy, but from the fear of the Lord. And the fear of the Lord is, at its core, to hate evil. There can be no genuine wisdom where evil is tolerated, excused, or embraced. Pride, arrogance, and the perverse mouth are the very things God’s wisdom despises. So when you ask the Father to grant wisdom to generals, troops, and every leader, you are asking that their hearts be turned to hate what is evil and to love what is right. That is the beginning of knowledge.
The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy. It does not breed envy, strife, or confusion. Worldly wisdom may promise quick victories or crafty maneuvers, but it is earthly, sensual, and ultimately foolish in the sight of God. For the world through its own wisdom cannot know Him. What our leaders desperately need is the wisdom that descends from above, wisdom that makes them instruments of justice and peace, so that we may live quiet and godly lives. True wisdom gives life to those who have it, and by it kings reign and rulers decree what is just. So keep asking, and do not lose heart. This is a prayer that moves the heart of God.
At the same time, never forget that the ultimate display of God’s wisdom is found in the gospel. The cross of Christ stands as the great demonstration that God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Salvation is not achieved by human effort, nor by the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but by the power of God. The pure gospel is that Christ died for our sins and rose again, and that through simple faith in Him, not by works, we receive eternal life. Any message that adds to that is not another gospel at all; it is a perversion. So when you intercede for open doors of proclamation, you are praying that this genuine, life-giving wisdom would spread freely, that those in darkness might come to the knowledge of the truth. Our spiritual wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against forces that love darkness and hate the light of that good news.
Continue to bind those prayers with thanksgiving, knowing that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. The enemy is a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and his schemes are not hidden from God. Just as the Lord frustrated the plans of evil men in ancient days, He is able to intercept hidden plots and bring the counsel of the wicked to nothing. Wisdom, built on the fear of the Lord, is a defense that no earthly weapon can match. So do not grow weary. Use the weapons of prayer, praise, and the Word. As you lift up those in authority, ask that their feet be removed from evil, that they not turn to the right or left, and that they be delivered from temptation. This is the path that leads not only to our peace, but to the open and effective proclamation of the gospel.
The wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy. It does not breed envy, strife, or confusion. Worldly wisdom may promise quick victories or crafty maneuvers, but it is earthly, sensual, and ultimately foolish in the sight of God. For the world through its own wisdom cannot know Him. What our leaders desperately need is the wisdom that descends from above, wisdom that makes them instruments of justice and peace, so that we may live quiet and godly lives. True wisdom gives life to those who have it, and by it kings reign and rulers decree what is just. So keep asking, and do not lose heart. This is a prayer that moves the heart of God.
At the same time, never forget that the ultimate display of God’s wisdom is found in the gospel. The cross of Christ stands as the great demonstration that God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Salvation is not achieved by human effort, nor by the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but by the power of God. The pure gospel is that Christ died for our sins and rose again, and that through simple faith in Him, not by works, we receive eternal life. Any message that adds to that is not another gospel at all; it is a perversion. So when you intercede for open doors of proclamation, you are praying that this genuine, life-giving wisdom would spread freely, that those in darkness might come to the knowledge of the truth. Our spiritual wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against forces that love darkness and hate the light of that good news.
Continue to bind those prayers with thanksgiving, knowing that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. The enemy is a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and his schemes are not hidden from God. Just as the Lord frustrated the plans of evil men in ancient days, He is able to intercept hidden plots and bring the counsel of the wicked to nothing. Wisdom, built on the fear of the Lord, is a defense that no earthly weapon can match. So do not grow weary. Use the weapons of prayer, praise, and the Word. As you lift up those in authority, ask that their feet be removed from evil, that they not turn to the right or left, and that they be delivered from temptation. This is the path that leads not only to our peace, but to the open and effective proclamation of the gospel.
