I Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV) reads, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and for all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
What can be more appropriate than to do what God’s Word instructs us to do?
At this time, I would like for you think back to my previous two blogs and reflect upon my premise stating that this nation is a ‘prisoner of words’. I also shared about my own experience about bad-mouthing the President and those in high positions. I, too, found myself incarcerated as a ‘prisoner of words’.
Many of you are probably thinking that I am discussing a personal experience that centers in our current presidency and administration. Actually, what I am sharing happened to me during the Clinton presidency.
As I was living through the Clinton presidency, I was confronted with the reality that I was not a righteous man praying for this nation and its leadership. I was an unrighteous man praying like a Pharisee.
How so? How can one come before the Lord requesting prayer for his country and its leadership when his heart and mind are constantly criticizing the President and other leaders in our nation?
I was bad-mouthing the President and the Administration; and it was wrong. In fact, it was sin. The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart was NOT right in the sight of the Lord.
I was behaving like the Pharisee that Jesus talked about in a parable in Luke 18:11 (ESV), “The Pharisee, standing by himself prayed thus. God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even this tax collector.”
The Pharisee was BRASH. (self-assertive, cocksure, full of oneself, self-confident, arrogant, thrusting, bold, audacious, brazen, impudent, insolent, impertinent, rude, pushy–all these words appeared when I googled, brash.
Here I was, seeking to pray, and the Lord confronted me about ‘the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart’. It is always easier to see the speck in the other person’s eye and not see the log in your own eye. Jesus taught that in Matthew 7:1-4. So, the Lord dealt with me about the log in my eye. or should I say the log in my mouth.
Now what? Continuing the parable found in Luke 18, the other person standing apart from the Pharisee said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I needed to recognize the truth; repent of my sin; receive the Lord’s forgiveness; reform my choices; renew my mind; and return to the Lord.
For me, this meant that I needed to refocus my attention on the Lord; turn off the other voices; concentrate on His words; and not give ascent to the other words that were producing anxiety, confusion and unrest. The issue was not about the President and the nation; the issue was me.
I needed to sit down; shut up, and ‘be still and know’ that He was God.
The Lord used His word to unlock the door of the cell imprisoning me, delivering me from my mental incarceration. Jesus said, John 8:31-32 (ESV), “…if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
It was only when I shut out the other ‘words’ that were captivating my heart and attention and refocusing on the scriptures that I could begin to pray as the word instructs us to pray. It was then that my body, soul, and spirit began to return to rest. God’s Word unshackled me from my incarceration, and I found that my attitude changed I was. not anxious, nor was I uptight, nor, not at rest. This does not mean that all is perfect. I need to discipline myself concerning what I listen too, how much I listen to it, and extremely careful in how I process it.
However, it does mean that I am freer to pray and not be encumbered by ‘words’ that have previously incarcerated my thinking.
Let me share with you an acronym for the word focus:
Focus On Christ Using Scripture
I would also like to share two short portions of scripture that have become real to me in my walk with the Lord and the Holy Spirit’s help.
Philippians 4:5b-6a, (ESV) “The Lord is at hand; be anxious for nothing…”
Isaiah 26:3, (ESV), “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
I am so thankful that Lord dealt with me regarding this issue in my life during the Clinton presidency. It has allowed me to live through subsequent presidencies with a quieter mind, a peaceful spirit, and a relaxed body; thereby allowing me the ability to pray for our leaders and our nation in a more meaningful way.
Praying for our nation has nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat. It has everything to do with being a responsible citizen of the Kingdom of God. The Lord is on the throne.
To Be Continued
Living Words of Encouragement 