The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
(Psalm 33:10-12 NIV)
God, I feel like I have been praying for this nation for years. I’ve been praying especially that the power of the wicked will be broken but your children will be preserved.
I have heard your prayers. You have prayed my Word, and it cannot go forth without being fruitful. I hear you.
So, when are you going to break the power of the wicked?
I am in the process of doing that. Your prayers and your efforts to be Light in the darkness, to spread righteousness and hope and peace, make a difference. Imagine what the world would be like if none of my children were doing these things.
It would be very dark indeed.
Very. Remember that I want all people to come to be my children. It may seem like I am not in a hurry to “break the power of the wicked,” but I truly want wicked people to repent.
But what if they don’t?
(sigh). Child, I am also a God of Justice. No human – only me – can truly judge. And I will. Unfortunately, it looks like I will have to pour out justice. So few have repented. This makes my heart sad.
God, I know I don’t want to feel your justice. I probably shouldn’t wish it on others.
Probably not. Do you remember the story in C.S. Lewis’s “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” where the ship comes to an island where all the dreams come true? Remember how at first they were excited about all their good dreams coming true? But then they realized that all their bad dreams would also come true.
Yes, that’s when they decided they did NOT want to visit that island.
Yes. Just like the island of dreams-come-true wasn’t a good idea, seeking to deliver justice isn’t good, either. It IS good and right to call for MY righteous justice, but you have to do it on MY terms, on MY timetable, in MY holiness. I reign over this world. I established it. I and only I will judge and rule the people. I am the Lord.
Yes, Lord. Sorry. I get a little impatient for things to improve. I guess I just figure that if you’ll reach down and smite all the evil, then things will get better.
Well, while I am capable of swooping in to rescue you, that’s not generally how I work. I didn’t have the Red Sea swallow Pharaoh’s army first; I repeatedly tried to get Pharaoh to let my chosen people go. Only when his heart was so hardened that there wasn’t any other choice did I drown him in the Red Sea. Haman faced his own gallows because he refused to turn from the blindness of his hatred of the Jews. The years Nebuchadnezzar spent living as a beast were after he rejected my counsel through the dreams and visions I sent. I always, always, always want evil people to come to a place of repentance, and not have to face justice. But if they will not, I must be true to my nature.
You’re pretty fierce on this, aren’t you?
Yes, my Child. I set up this universe with laws and systems of justice. I also offer much grace and mercy to those with humble hearts who seek me. My arm of justice is long, but my heart of love is forever.
Like this? “All the wickedness in the world that man might do or say was no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped in the sea.”*
Yes. My mercy is abounding. You stay in a place of humble intercession for the leaders. You continue to study my Word and to absorb all that I am saying to you. Be Light in this world. And let me be God. I am just. I am holy. I AM.
I AM,
We come to you today, asking you to give us patience for your timetable, strength to endure the trials, and hearts to reach out to those living lives not aligned with you. We pray in the name of Jesus that you would break the power of the wicked and uphold, guard, guide, and protect your people. But we also pray that your Spirit would convict evildoers so that they repent and turn to you. If they will not, may your justice and your will be done, in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
*(William Langland’s “Piers Plowman”)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)
The power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalm 37:17 NIV)
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly and securely established, it shall not be moved; He will judge and rule the people with fairness.” (Psalm 96:10 AMP)