As I was doing my daily Bible reading the other day, I was in Psalms, reading the words of David as he was hiding from King Saul and his soldiers. They were out to kill David. I had been reading this section of the Bible for several days. Many of David's prayers seemed to be similar. This prayer, however, seemed to jump out at me! This is what I read.
"Break the power of wicked and evil people;punish them for the wrong they have done until they do it no more." Psalms 10:15 | GNT.
Perhaps it stood out to me because of all the terrible news I've been hearing lately: police officers being shot for no reason, refugees fleeing their homeland because the war has taken their jobs and the ability to feed and cloth themselves, people selling body parts of aborted babies. Oh, the HORRORS!
I feel like we are living in a nightmare. Why do these people not see that what they are doing is wrong?
Then I begin to wonder, " What can I do? I have no contact with these people and I have no control over them." Enter God's Word, prayer of David. "break the power of wicked and evil people..." David was being pursued by wicked and evil people, and his response was to pray. Just PRAY! We are powerless to defeat evil on our own but we know the One who is all-powerful! He can defeat these evil, wicked people. But He's waiting for us to pray. Not just a "Lord I need your help and I need it right now!" kind of prayer but a "Lord, I am your servant and I know You are in control and if it is your will, please defeat these evil people. Punish them so they won't do it any more" kind of prayer.
So instead of allowing all the bad news get me down, making me fearful, I am going to the God-of-angel-armies in prayer.
"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 | NIV
I must first acknowledge my own sin! I must humble myself before God. That means I give Him control and He is in charge of my life, whether I like it or understand it or not. I must ask to be forgiven and turn from my own wickedness. (Let's be honest. We all have a little streak of evil deep down inside. We try not to let it out or let it show but, given just the right stressful situation, it just might rear its ugly head!) Aren't you glad that God is faithful to forgive us no matter how evil our sin?
If every believer would follow 2 Chronicles 7:14, then we could be free to pray David's prayer found in Psalms 10:15. This is the ONLY WAY our country, our world, can change! Dear Lord, let it begin with me.
Will you join me?
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