Laughing and scoffing

I was reading an article entitled “A 2024 Wish List: Sanity at Home and Stability Abroad.”* In this article the author enumerated his list of what needs to happen in the next year, and he closed this list of mostly geo-political items with the following sentence: “May this be a year where the forces of civilizational sanity prosper, and the forces of civilizational arson and barbarism are vanquished. Happy New Year to all.” Somehow, I found it hard to hear the “Happy New Year” wishes, after he had just enlightened us about all the forces of “civilizational arson and barbarism.” Whether or not you or I agree with the items in his list, we can pray over the issues of this world.

Omnipotent God,

You are the one enthroned in heaven, laughing and scoffing at those who conspire and plot against your plans and your Truth. Today we pray that you would rebuke those who do evil in this world. Break them with your powerful spiritual and natural weapons, dash them to pieces like pottery, so they will turn to serve the Lord and celebrate your rule with trembling. Break the strength of wickedness in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the China-Taiwan conflict, the mass influx of illegal border entries into the US, the growing drug overdose crisis in the US, and the injustices in the economic, medical, educational, and political systems in our day. God, cause 2024 to be the year where godly, Spirit-led, Christ-followers are put in places of influence and leadership in all these areas. Protect, guard, guide, and provide for those whose hearts are attuned to yours and who seek to further your Kingdom here on earth, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.

For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. (Psalm 37:17 NLT)

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.

Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2 NIV)

*https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/a-2024-wish-list-sanity-at-home-and-stability-abroad-5555227