A Prayer About the Gospel, the Kingdom & Haiti
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. Daniel 1:17-20
Dear Lord Jesus, the hymn, “This Is My Father’s World,” has been on perpetual replay in the music room of my heart, especially as the greatest natural disaster in the history of the Western Hemisphere continues to unfold in Haiti. I keep hearing the verse…
“O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done: Jesus Who died shall be satisfied, and earth and Heav’n be one.” This is my hope, my only hope, Jesus.
Indeed, along with feelings like shock, horror, heartbreak, and deep sadness, I feel profound gratitude that you are the Savior and King that you are. You stood outside of Lazarus’ tomb and wept bitter tears over the death of a dear friend, even though you knew you would raise him from the dead in a matter of moments… so great is your compassion.
In a similar way, I cannot imagine anyone feeling greater grief and greater compassion for Haiti than you. Even as the “wrong” in Haiti is feeling “oft so strong,” you are the ruler yet. You died to bring Haitians to heaven and heaven to Haiti… so grace-full is your gospel and so great is your kingdom. Lord Jesus, you will be satisfied one Day. Earth and heaven will be one, when the work of the gospel and kingdom are completed at your return.
In light of that Day, raise up men and women like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah for Haiti, and so many other broken places in the world. You, who gives “knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning,” raise up city planners, engineers, evangelists, poets, medical personnel, financial people, grief and trauma counselors, construction magnates, sanitation experts, pastors, artists … whatever the need, deploy us into your service, oh merciful and mighty King Jesus.
You will be satisfied… you WILL be satisfied, Lord Jesus. So very Amen, I pray, in your loving and faithful name.