Trusting the King of Kings

This excerpt calls believers to bold intercessory prayer rooted in the sovereignty of God, reminding us that true transformation begins by trusting the King of Kings. No matter how chaotic the world may seem, God remains in full control, directing nations and hearts alike according to His purpose. When we pray with faith and align our hearts with His will, we become powerful vessels of hope, peace, and change.

“Intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvelous deeds. Believer, you have a mighty engine in your hand—use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and you shall surely be a benefactor to your brethren.”

– Charles Spurgeon

A critical step in your role as an intercessor is recognizing God’s sovereignty and then relinquishing your nation into His hands. The changes that need to happen will not be the result of human effort or ingenuity, but rather will come by a mighty move of the Spirit of God.

As “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15), God has no limitations. He “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11), and “in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 NASB).

Nothing is impossible for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:17). Isaiah 46:11 says that if He speaks something, He will do it. And when He purposes something, it is certain to come to pass.

The psalmist reminds us that “our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). In other words, God is God—and we are not.

God is the Potter, and we are merely the clay (Isaiah 45:9). Yet He is intent on working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Even when it looks like the world is totally out of control, our God “rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28), and He establishes the governing authorities on earth (Romans 13:1). And although many earthly leaders openly reject God’s authority, He can still change their direction at any time He chooses: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1).

When you are interceding for your city and your nation, it’s important for you to be grounded in these truths about your all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise God. One word from Him can transform your personal circumstances or the entire trajectory of your nation!

God’s Loving Plan

The Lord loves your loved ones, neighbors, and friends even more than you do. He wants to save them … heal them … bless them. In fact, one of the most popular verses in the Bible speaks of God’s plans to bless your city and your nation:

“‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Yes, Jeremiah 29:11 is a great promise to claim for yourself and your loved ones. But the context is actually much different than that. The verse comes amid a chapter where God was challenging His people to seek blessings and favor on the nation where they were exiled.

The backdrop of Jeremiah 29 is that Jerusalem had been invaded by a fierce enemy army from Babylon. Many Israelites had been taken captive and forcibly removed to the capital city of the invading nation. The Israelites were proud and independent-minded people, of course, and weren’t inclined to accept this fate without a struggle.

Yet God has plans for His people, even at such times as this. While many of the leaders advocated some form of rebellion or escape, Jeremiah was the lone prophetic voice who
offered this unthinkable advice:

Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper  (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

At such advice, you might have protested, “Are you crazy! Why in the world would we want to ask God to grant peace and blessing to our captors?”

You see, no matter what nation you may be living in, this world is not your ultimate home. You are living in a foreign land, not the Kingdom of God. But as a citizen of Heaven, you are called to be a Heavenly ambassador to a world that desperately needs to be reconciled to God (Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 5:20). And, as Jeremiah told the Israelites who were living in Babylon, you need to pray for your city and nation. Why? “Because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Seeking First the Kingdom

In a section of the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was encouraging His disciples to trust their Heavenly Father to meet their material needs, He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). As we are seeking to reflect the values of God’s Kingdom in our personal life and family, we should also seek to bring those values to the world around us.

This is one of the central aspects of the prayer Jesus prescribed in Matthew 6:9-13: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In addition to being an important prayer for your individual life and your family, seeking more of God’s Kingdom should be part of your prayer for your city and nation.

Can you imagine what your nation would be like if God’s will was perfectly done there, just as it is in Heaven? In Heaven there is peace, contentment, holiness, joy, health, love, abundance—and so much more! There’s no crime, addiction, sickness, or lack. As you pray and live your daily life, it should be your desire to bring more of this Heavenly realm to the world around you.

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Excerpt taken from Prayers to Change Your Nation by Inspiration Ministries

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