Our God, Hear the Prayers

I do not enjoy politics. I don’t like the arguing, bickering, or truth-stretching/bending. I am opinionated, though, and a somewhat anxious person by nature. So currently, I am worried about the state and direction of our country (and the world). I find myself getting frustrated and angry over decisions that are being made, as well as failures (especially moral) of our leaders. I am really trying to pray for our country and our leaders when I get anxious or angry, but sometimes it’s hard to overcome those emotions.

This morning, as I was working on a different Bible study, the book of Daniel caught my eye and the Lord reminded me of Daniel’s amazing faith and sense of ownership of the sins of his people.

O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame – the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness, to you. O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and our people bear your Name. - Daniel 9:4-19

Daniel took ownership over the sins of his people. He knew that there were major corporate sins going on among his people and they were in this together, like it or not. Daniel had known this for a while. It was because of the disobedience of his people that they were given over to Babylon, to live in captivity.

It was because of the sins of his people that Daniel was trained and taught a Babylonian culture with Babylonian values. It was because of the sins of his people that Daniel had the opportunity to stand tall for the Lord in the face of adversity. And he did. Daniel lived one of the most amazing stories ever written because he held fast to the Lord and His teaching, no matter the opposition.

Daniel’s courage and dedication to the Lord is taught and viewed in high regard today. He didn’t bow to any other god. He didn’t defile himself with unclean food and drink. And, yet, Daniel placed himself right there alongside all of those who did bow to another god and did defile themselves. Daniel knew he was guilty of sin just like everyone else.

Daniel also knew that the only mercy and forgiveness of sins came from God. Daniel knew that a humble, broken heart before God was the only road to restoration of relationship with God. Daniel knew that it wasn’t about blame, but about admittance of guilt and complete reliance on the Father.

And so Daniel prayed – not for his people, but with them.

So no matter your political alignment or particular view, I challenge you to walk the road Daniel did, and pray with your people, your country. Don’t seek someone to blame for all of the problems. Don’t sit high and mighty on your spiritual hill. Get on your knees, heart poured out before Him, and seek forgiveness and restoration. Pray with your people.

Batting 7th

When I played softball, I liked hitting 7th. Not just that, but I actually didn't like hitting in the top 5 positions. I didn't like hitting 9th either. (In softball, the 9th hitter is usually really fast, so I didn't have a chance of hitting 9th.) But, yeah, if the coach ever announced the lineup and I was one of the first 5 names listed, I started freaking out inside.

You see, if you bat at the top of the lineup (or 9^th, in softball) people generally assume you will get on base. And it wasn’t that I was incapable of getting on base or a bad hitter. At times, I was actually a decent hitter. Now, I was never even close to the best hitter on the team (I was there for my glove), but I could string a few hits together now and then. The problem was somehow my position in the lineup had a direct effect on the pressure I felt before the game.

It all came down to expectations. I felt that if I hit at the top of the lineup, I was expected to get on base. If I got to hit 7^th, I wasn’t expected to get on base. If I did get on base, it was a pleasant surprise. I had surpassed my expectations.

And that’s what I like to do – surpass expectations. But surpassing expectations is easy when nothing is expected of you. And, honestly, I like it that way. Wow, that’s even worse to read than say. I like when nothing is expected because it’s easy to succeed. There it is.

But the thing is, in reality, we all have expectations placed on us. Even if they are low, someone places some type of expectation on us. We place expectations on ourselves. And God has expectations of us.

Expectation is no reason to have anxiety, though. Most expectations of us are placed there for a reason. Now, some expectations are unrealistic. I’m not talking about those. I’m talking about when people place expectations on you based on the God-given talents and potential they see in you.

Expectation is not a bad thing. Allow it to point you and others back to God. He created us. He created the potential that others see in us. Expectation is for His glory. Give it to Him. Don’t waste the opportunity to give Him glory by letting your anxiety rule. Allow God to take your anxiety and the glory.

‘Everyone to whom much was given, much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.’ Luke 11:48