He Sets Up Kings
By Shirley Mitchell
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Daniel 2:21
While I was in Penang, Malaysia, our driver said to my manager and me, “Oh, I hear that you have a new president in the United States now. Maybe he can pull your country out of this economic crisis that is affecting us, too.” We had to explain to our driver that the election had not occurred, and that the decision had not been made yet.
No matter what the polls say or the rumor mill says, it is not over yet. We still have time to implore God for His choice to be our next president. It is imperative that you and I seek God’s candidate choice. We must ask our God who sets up kings and deposes of them (Daniel 2:21) who does He want to be the next president…Not who do we want, not who will make our lives more comfortable. Which candidate will allow for God to bless this country once again? We want to live under the blessings of God, not the temporary blessings of man. I am not endorsing any candidate, but I am asking you to know that you have aligned with God on His selection.
Frankly, the selection gets harder and harder every presidential election because the parties choose candidates who appeal to people of all beliefs. A man or woman who bends his or her knee to the one true God, Jehovah the Father of Jesus Messiah, and is committed to God’s Word has a hard time being elected.
Since both candidates have their positives and negatives, we must seek the Giver of knowledge for discernment. We can’t let unsubstantiated rumor e-mails about both candidates cloud our minds. We can’t choose a candidate whose slick tongue promises us change and an economic turn around. We must have discerning ears to be able to know a lie that is tickling our ears. We must have the keen sense of an animal to know the danger that lurks behind the wrong leadership.
Right now, my Bible study group at work is studying the kings of the Old Testament. It is evident that when a king did right in the eyes of the LORD so did the people. Likewise, when the kind did evil in the eyes of the LORD and worshiped other gods so did the people. Political leadership affects us. Our elected officials also reflect the heart of America.
There are some areas where we can be certain to pray for our next presidential and congressional leadership. We can know by the Word of God that He desires for a nation to follow God’s policies on these issues.
We need leadership that will not sell Israel for Arab oil. We need to be a people who is not deceived into thinking Israel’s land can be given for peace. God’s Word tells us in the end times that God will enter into judgment against the nations that divided up His land, His people Israel (Joel 3:2). Our current president does not follow the Word of God when he tries to force Israel to give up more land. You and I can know that we are within the will of God every time we support and pray for Israel. We can be sympathetic to the needs of Palestinians, but it doesn’t mean that they can have the land that God promised to Israel.
We need leaders who will awaken to the truth of abortion. Fifty million babies have been killed under the lie of “choice.” They don’t understand that life begins at conception. They have been deceived. Now, the abortion industry is driven by the fierce god of money. They have been captured by the lure of money and no longer see the damage that they are doing to the souls of women who believe the lie that abortion is merely a choice and doesn’t hurt anyone. They disregard the studies that show the high rate of depression and suicide of women who have had an abortion.
We must remember that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities of the air, against the kingdom of darkness. When we recognize where the real battle for our country is taking place, then we realize the only field where we can combat it – in our prayer closets.
I have told you before that God is burdening me to have intensity about this pivotal time in our nation. He has not burdened me like this since the entire month before 9/11. As Kay Arthur says, “America is at a Crossroad.” What will we decide? Will we choose God’s road?
Do you understand this pivotal time in our country, beloved? Are you engaged in battling the real forces, the kingdom of darkness, who desire to harm America? If so, I am thankful to stand by your side on the battlefield. Let’s pray and pray for the country that we love. If you needed a nudge, then I implore you to seek God for His choice of political leadership for the upcoming elections. I plead with you to become a prayer warrior for our nation.
Pray with me: Lord, we know that You set up kings, and You dispose of them. No ruler has ever been put into place outside the realm of Your control. They may not have been Your choice, but You have allowed them to rule.
Now, we cry out for the land that we love. We continue to repent of our sins against You and our disobedience to Your Word. We cry out for leadership who will not dare to turn its back on You and Your Word. We cry out for leaders who bend their knees to You. We ask for You to set up committed Christians in government.
We want to bless Israel. We don’t want to curse Israel. Never again may America try to trade land for peace. The battle for Israel is intense in the spiritual realm, and may we recognize that satan is going after the place where Your name is.
We are burdened for women to see the lie called “choice” and realize that when they choose abortion they are killing their own baby and imparting to themselves something that hurts them more than they are being told. They have bought a lie that will eat at them the rest of their lives unless they find healing in You. Forgive this nation for allowing this to happen on this soil. Forgive Your people for not standing up against this lie. Forgive us for using our own methods against this and not turning to You. It’s in the Name that someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess it, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.