Amen and amen!

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen! (This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.) Psalm 72:18-20 NLT

What kind of prayers do you say for your children or those who are like children to you?

The entire Psalm 72 is David's prayer for his son, Solomon. He knows that Solomon will reign after him and he is praying that he will be a just ruler. Perhaps part of that is David's own desire that he would have been more like that. Instead, David was a warrior king. That is why God did not allow him to build a temple to God. There was too much blood on his hands. But Solomon would be a different king.

So, David prayer a different prayer over Solomon.

What things in your own life are you glad your children or the next generation will not have to face? What kind of legacy from you would you like them to have? Are there things you have not been capable of that you want them to attain?

At the end of his prayer, David praises God because of what wonderful things God has done. Will God not do the same for those who come after you?

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

God Bless our Leaders

May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long. May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and my the people thrive like grass in a field. May the king's name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise. Psalm 72: 15b-17 NLT

May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.

How many blessings have you said for your leaders today? This week? How about this year? Too busy fussing and complaining because they aren't doing what you feel is right?

I am certainly thankful that I live in a country where I can criticize my leaders. However, as a Christian I would do better to be on my knees for them more often. And my prayers should not just be “O God, make them do what I want!” Instead, I need to pray God's blessings on them, their families and their leadership. I need to be lifting up my leaders each day to God.

Take some time today to look up (if you don't already know) your leaders – local and national. Write their names down somewhere you can see every day. Begin this day to pray for them, including to ask God to bless them.

Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Long Live the King!

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. Long live the king! Psalm 72: 12- 15a NLT

Wait, shouldn't the king be more concerned about national debt? How about the strength of the armed forces?

The psalmist – we are told this is actually a prayer for Solomon spoken by his father, David – wants help for the least of these. The king should rescue the poor, help the oppressed, feel pity for the week and needy and rescue them. All these should be redeemed from oppression and violence for their lives are precious to him.

While we wait for a leader who will be like this, perhaps we should take a good look at ourselves. What is precious to you? Who is precious to you? Do you hear the cries of the needy and the poor? Are you helping to rescue the oppressed and the weak? What kinds of things do you do every day to stop violence among those who have no one to defend them?

God, raise up leaders who will rescue the poor and oppressed, the weak and the needy. May they be redeemed from violence because their lives are precious. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

A Refreshing Rule

May the king's rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth. May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more. May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth. Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust. The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him. Psalm 72: 6-11 NLT

What would a refreshing rule look like?

For me it would be a ruler who could really work with different people who had different agendas in order that the good of the people of the country was upheld no matter what. Instead of everyone trying to carry the party agenda or the lobbyists' goals, it would be great if everyone worked together for the benefit of all, not just a few groups or individuals.

A refreshing reign would create an atmosphere where the godly flourished and everyone had more than enough. Everyone outside of the country would be in awe so much so that gifts would be brought to the ruler just because of their amazing reign.

Sound impossible? Well, since nothing is impossible with God, I think we should at least be praying for this!

God, may our country be ruled in a refreshing way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

Praying for our Leaders

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king's son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever! Psalm 72: 1-5 NLT

So, if you are praying for the leader of your country, such as the President of the United States, what kind of things would you be praying for?

Would you ask for them to have a love of justice? Would you want the poor to be treated fairly and defended by this leader? Would you want the leader to rescue the children of the needy and crush their oppressors?

Or would you be more interested in making sure we all prosper in our country? Would you want the leader to defend us all against those outside of the country? Would you want the leader to uphold the law, even if that meant children went without?

Would you ask that the leader always feared God? More than man or weapons or defeat?

What would you pray for your leader right now?

God, I pray for the leaders of my country. Give them a love of justice and the fear of you with wisdom and courage. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims