In John’s vision of heaven in Revelation 8:3-5, we see that the same censer (the vessel filled with burning incense) which brings the prayers of believers before God also casts fire upon the earth. [Therefore] prayers that go up to heaven help make history on earth! Remember today that your prayers go up like incense in God’s presence.” (Andrew Murray)
He determines the course of world events; He removes kings and sets others on the throne (Daniel 2:21).
The power of prayer cannot be diminished by distance; it is not limited by age, infirmity, political changes or restrictions. The power of prayer in the life of an obedient Christian can only be undermined by neglect. (David Bentley-Tayler)
It is remarkable that Joshua did not weary in the fighting, but Moses did in the praying (Exodus 17:8-13). The all important thing is to practice prayer and communion with God, whatever dryness, distraction, or weariness you may find in it. Your patience will win Him again! Meditate on Scripture passages or stories that encourage you to pray with confidence for rulers, for nations, and for international affairs.
The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go so they can worship Me. If you don’t, I will send a plague that will really speak to you and your officials and all the Egyptian people. I will prove to you that there is no other God like Me in all the earth. I could have killed you all by now. I could have attacked you with a plague that would have wiped you from the face of the earth. But I have let you live for this reason – that you might see My power and that My fame might spread throughout the earth. (Exodus 9:13-16)
God is our Supreme Ruler – the blessed, behind-the-scenes Controller of all things (1 Timothy 6:15). How can man ever understand His reasons for action or explain His methods of working (Romans 11:33). But it does give insights into how He uses troubles and disasters for good and it shows that He looks to our prayers to cause Him to achieve His good and eternal results.
All governments have been place in power by God (Romans 13:1).
For no one on earth – from east or west, or even from the wilderness – can raise another person up. It is God alone who judges; He decides who will rise and who will fall (Psalm 75:6-7).
The Lord shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken (Psalm 33:10-11)
When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the One who keeps its foundations firm (Psalm 75:3).
Some examples of God’s dealings with kingdoms on earth:
And this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: “His armies will not enter Jerusalem to shoot their arrows. They will not march outside its gates with their shields, and build banks of earth against its walls. The king will return to his own country by the road on which he came. He will not enter this city, says the Lord. For My own honor and for the sake of My servant David, I will defend it.” That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there (Isaiah 37:33-37).
This is what the dream means, your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to you. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals… until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone He chooses. But… you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules (Danial 4:24-26).
It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They become strong in battle and put whole armies to flight (Hebrews 11:32-34).
What faith in the power of prayer Paul had! He expected a few feeble and despised Christians to influence the mighty Roman emperors, and help secure peace and order (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Today we can pray with the same conviction that gripped Paul – that prayer is a powerful influence in how God rules the world. (Andrew Murray)
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
A PRAYER BEFORE ELECTION DAY: Dear God, Ruler over all the nations, preserve our commitment to the common good. Let vested interest wane and advocacy see beyond pure personal gain. Above all, please help us elect officials that will refrain from self-serving and to commit themselves to those things that benefit us all. May they gain wisdom to discern what elevates our goals and preserves our values. Please teach them to speak with integrity and to hear with openness; so the opinions of all are given their due. O Lord, please give them and us joy in our citizenship and confidence in our future. Amen.
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