praying effectively: Choose Righteous Leaders (Deut.)

(Deuteronomy 1:13-18)  Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 14 You answered me and said, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’ 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes.

16 “Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 18 I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.

(Deuteronomy 16:18-20)  “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that we are just, impartial and do not take bribes (Dt.16:19)
- that we pursue justice for everyone (Dt.16:20)
- that we choose righteous judges who will be just and impartial (Dt.1:16-18, 16:18)
- that we are organized and choose righteous leaders (Dt.1:13-15)

Today's prayer: 

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be just and see all people as equal in Your eyes.  Help our churches choose righteous leaders who will remain true to Your word.  And when it is election time in our country, give me wisdom and insight to know which person is right for the job.  Amen.