March 24 I Tuesday

Joshua 16-18

Luke 2:1-24

“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  —1 Timothy 2:3-4

Before my trip to Colombia, I had been praying for Venezuela for months. When I finally got there, I witnessed firsthand the humanitarian crisis that was unfolding as millions and millions of Venezuelans fled the country because of a failed state, a corrupt government and a ruthless dictator, Nicolás Maduro.

I went back to the hotel with all the emotions of what I had seen—all the brokenness and pain—it was very raw. I must confess, as I prayed for Venezuela, the thoughts that started to float through my mind were, “God, if You call Maduro and his military team to eternity, I won’t mind. Lord, if there just happens to be a drone strike that takes him out or maybe a sniper, I’m fine with that. Okay, Lord, maybe not a military solution, just a heart attack or a stroke, you can take him out naturally.” As I prayed, all
the frustration and anger of what I saw on that day started to come out in my prayer life. 

It was then, the Spirit started to open my eyes to His Word. “The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). I recognized governments as well as authorities in the world and the connection they have with the Divine. They rule and reign with this power above them. I believe every world leader knows that; even if some of them are very closed off, there must be a spiritual sense that there is a higher power than themselves.

I found as I prayed for Maduro in the midst of this revelation, I started to pray differently. “Lord, there must be some activity that You are engaging in his life. I pray that You would provoke his conscience and that his eyes would be open from whatever darkness is surrounding him to see what is happening in his nation. The image bearer that he was fashioned to be, I pray that You would rekindle it.
Help his military leaders around him to see it, feel it and know who You are. Lord, I pray that he comes to You in repentance and faith.”

When we pray, it changes us. My prayer for the world that stemmed from my hurt, anger and indignation was transformed as God’s heart started to be revealed to me. It is not easy to pray for those who do harm but God causes the sun to rise on the good and the evil, even with the complexity of every nation—we all stand condemned before God. When we pray, our prayers not only give us God’s perspective on the situation but our prayers also change us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for putting world leaders in their positions. I pray that You would awaken them to Your truth and they will govern out of love and self-sacrifice. Praise You!