The Heart of the King

Proverbs 21:11: "The King's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will."
It certainly looks and feels like I am living in a country where the Lord's hand has passed over. I am overwhelmed by the evil lurking behind every new law and scared of what is coming. It seems there is corruptness everywhere I look, and I can't trust the heart of the nation's leaders to get back on the right road.

The Proverbs selection I chose is comparing the heart of the king to a garden. The Eastern culture planted their gardens in divided plots of ground in terraces. Each plot had a ridge of earth around it. All the gardens were watered by irrigation and the husbandman chose when to let the water into the plot by pulling away a small portion of the dirt wall. The garden's growth was dependent upon the gardener's timing of when to release the water. He was the Master of the garden plot; it was his design.

Just so, I am reminded again, of the big God who still sits on His throne with the earth as His footstool. He is still in charge of His created world,  and can command any change He wants for mankind. I also know His ways are not ours.

It's so easy to quote prophecy of end times, criticize the laws and government, express a voice on the media's forum provided to vent, and watch the downhill slide of government, leaders and seemingly the lives of all of us! Some time ago, I decided there has to be a better way to cope and survive this tumultuous time!

Another scripture came to mind.  II Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray,  and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their lands." Instead of thinking that I can make such a big difference by simply expressing my political views (and there is a place for that), shouldn't I be doing more praying?

More specifically, I Timothy 2:1-2 says " I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercession  and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority,  that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. " I am not political by nature but I realize that I must be aware of how to pray for my present peaceful life and that of my posterity.

The biblical instructions are pretty specific.  Get rid of the proud, know it all approach to solving the country's problems.  I must fall on my knees with some confession that I really am scared and clueless in myself, and begin to pray! Not just any prayer: but a II Timothy 2 prayer. Use supplications (asking and begging earnestly and humbly). Do some intercessing (pleading for the needs of another person).

The last part of that passage says with "giving of thanks"!  What a greedy and thankless person I can be! I am part of a world that can sit back and selfishly live with an over abundance of food and clothing, living in big houses with too much luxury and dare to complain about what looks like the risk of my future lifestyle!  The one most important thing I often forget and seldom do is pray the right kind of prayer.

So I did a reality check. How much time do I spend on my knees praying for my country and my leaders? Have I ever mentioned my President's name in prayer and asked the Lord to visit him with dreams and visions to change his heart?  Do I care enough to mention the evil things surrounding me in specifics and tearfully petition God to bring conviction on the leader's hearts. Couldn't I write down the names of the judges who are approving the evil laws, and bring them personally to God?

And remember for any request I bring before Him, He will be a whole lot more attentive if I am living humbly and gratefully. I believe that I must cease complaining and voicing negative comments and switch to supplications and intercessions to the One who can really make a difference!