Proverbs 21:1-2: The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever He pleases. People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

When Jesus was on the cross, He asked the Father to forgive those who had beaten and crucified Him; He said that the people who were doing this to Him did not know what they were doing. Paul gives us some insight into why they didn’t know in 2 Corinthians 4. When people reject truth, or in this case, they rejected Jesus as the truth and treated Him as a blasphemer, it allows Satan to spiritually blind them.

In the countries of the world, you will find that governments rule over the affairs of the people, yet the government leaders may or may not know the Lord. But if some governments refuse to acknowledge God, it won’t prevent Him from being Lord over the earth or His people. Many government leaders will do what they perceive is right according to the thoughts of their own hearts. Yet God’s Word tells us in Proverbs 29 that when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people mourn. We are instructed in God’s word to pray for our leaders on a consistent basis; this empowers the Lord’s will to be carried out in the earth over the will of man or governments.

When men and women in leadership don’t place their faith in Jesus as their Savior, it allows Satan to blind them to God’s will. But the church has a higher calling and authority than the government. If we will pray, then the Lord can turn the hearts of the kings and accomplish His will in the earth. Please pray with me and ask the Lord to place His wisdom and direction in the hearts of our leaders. In Genesis, there is a great example of Godly wisdom that led a heathen ruler during a famine. While Joseph was in prison, as the result of false accusations, Egypt was about to face a seven year famine. Joseph’s hard times in prison were about to end, but for Egypt, they were about to begin. Here’s the reason why we need to pray for God’s wisdom to lead our officials:

The Lord knew that a famine was about to cover the land for seven years, but before the famine began, there would be seven years of plenty. So He gave Pharaoh a dream concerning the next fourteen years of his administration. This gave Joseph, the “dreamer,” an opportunity to interpret the dream for the King. When Pharaoh heard the meaning of his own dream, he placed Joseph over the kingdom—even though he was not an Egyptian. The wisdom that God gave Joseph preserved the lives of Jews and gentiles alike. It doesn’t matter what party is in office as long as we pray for Godly wisdom to rule that office. James teaches us that when we find ourselves in various trials or temptations, we should ask God for wisdom.

Why would James be directed by the Holy Spirit to tell us to ask for wisdom during trying times? Wouldn’t it make better sense to ask for the trial to be over? This is why we shouldn’t listen to man’s wisdom, but rather seek God’s direction. If God delivers us out of a trial, but we don’t know what caused the trial, then there is a very good chance that we will slip back into the same trial again.

Like never before in my generation, we need the wisdom of God to lead us through these tough times. Who knows, there may be Godly wisdom and direction that comes out of this test that will astound the greatest minds in the earth today and win them to Christ. Now let’s pray!  —submitted by Pastor Asa Dockery, US