DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020

PRAYING FOR THE NATION (2)

BIBLE READING: 1 CHRONICILES 21:1-3; PSALMS 72:15

I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2: 1-4(NIV).

In wartime, the most important person is the general; enormous responsibility rests on his shoulders. In flying an aircraft, praying for the pilots is more important than praying for all the passengers because if the pilots suddenly go blind, it would take the intervention of God to safely land the aircraft. In our key text, Apostle Paul urges us that praying for those in political authority has great impact on the preaching of the gospel; and also that, good governance is pleasing to God.

Carefully consider, 1 Chronicles 21:1-3, 14; Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops."Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know many there are." But Joab replied, "May the Lord multiply his troops hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?" ... So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead (NIV).

From the above scriptures, Satan orchestrated an attack against Israel, he rather went after the king (president), to make a policy (decision) that was going to plunge the nation into a terrible situation, even when there was a superior argument against the policy. Little did they know that the decision was a high powered satanic plot. It could be seen from here that decisions (policies) of those in political authority do not just come from out of the blues, they are either inspired by God or demonically manipulated. Political leaders can be puppets in the hands of the enemy if we as the Church fail to uphold them in prayer. Some of their decisions may be personal but not private, the results or consequences may derail the nation.

The book of Daniel gives details of how his prayers in Babylon caused a cosmic and angelic warfare that eventually broke the captivity of Israel in that nation that resulted in their release from bondage. Likewise, the book of Nehemiah shows us that the prayer of Nehemiah shifted the heart of the king not only to sponsor a bill that was passed into law to allow the children of Israel to return to their homeland, but also supplied resources for the rebuilding of the wall.

Psalms 72:15 says, Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long (NIV). Men and brethren, may we continually pray for the political leaders of our nation.

ACTION POINT:
Do you passionately pray for the political leaders of your nation? Make commitments to take your place on the watchtower against all sorts of bills and legislations that can harm the peace and prosperity of the nation.

PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for the Ibadan Discipleship Summit starting today that God will use His servant to communicate His will to God's people. Pray that the city and the hearts of men in it will open up for God to have His way.

Pray for the emergence of a mighty army of sons in the southwest region of Nigeria.
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