I Kings 3:5, 9-13 “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee … Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.”
On February 8, 1797, upon hearing that her husband would become the next President of the United States, Abigail Adams wrote the following prayer:
“And now O Lord my God thou hast made thy servant Ruler over the people, give unto him an understanding Heart, that he may know how to go out, and come in before this great people, that he may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this, thy so great people?”
She went on to follow that written prayer with these additional thoughts to her husband:
“My Thoughts, and my meditations are with you, though personally absent, and my petitions to Heaven are that the things which make for Peace, may not be hidden from your Eyes … My feelings are not those of Pride, or ostentation upon the occasion. They are solemnized by a sense of the obligations, the important Trusts and Numerous Duties connected with it, that you may be enabled to discharge them with Honour to yourself, with justice and impartiality to your Country, and with satisfaction to this Great People.”
These words of prayer and encouragement from more than two centuries ago are a textbook reminder of how we are to pray for our nation’s leaders. God, give our leaders understanding hearts! Allow them the ability to discern between good and bad. May the things which make for peace be visible to them! May they be humbled by a sense of their solemn obligations, important trusts, and numerous duties. May our leaders be enabled and empowered to discharge their duties with honor to themselves, with justice and impartiality to their country, and with satisfaction to the governed.
PLEASE PRAY FOR WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, AND UNDERSTANDING FOR OUR NATION’S LEADERS. “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that [they] may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”
Please see the following for a previous thought from 2014 on the need for prayers for understanding hearts in the leaders of our nation:
ADMIN NOTE: With this blog I celebrate my 600th PLUS post; praise God!
