praying effectively: Do Not Pervert Justice (Pv.31:1-9)

(Proverbs 31:1-31)  The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

2 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed, and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. 

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 do not give our power away to the opposite sex (31:3)
- that government leaders are not womanizers or drunks (31:3-4)
- that government leaders should defend the rights of the vulnerable and not pervert justice (31:8-9)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, be with our government leaders.  Help them not to seek after selfish and self-serving desires, but guide them in wisdom that they will have the country's best interests at heart.  Amen.