Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. – Psalm 115:3
You may wonder if today’s verse means that God’s will is always done on Earth. While God is sovereign, in His sovereignty He made people with free wills. Looking around at the sin and evil committed worldwide, it can be concluded that God does not always get what He wants on Earth. However, He does use evil and good to glorify His name and accomplish His will, just as He did in the deliverance of Israel from the land of Egypt, the humbling of Israel in the book of Habakkuk, and in other Biblical events.
Jesus commanded His people to pray that God’s will be done on Earth, implying that in order for God’s will to be done, believers need to pray (Matthew 6:10). Does that mean all prayers are answered? As some say, all prayers are answered, either yes, no, or wait a while. As Billy Graham once said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out all right.”
Ultimately God will put everything right on Earth. In the meantime, those who believe need to study and do His will, and pray for His will to be done. Prayer often includes fasting and putting in serious “knee time.”
The Bible is clear about the importance of prayer. Ask God today for His will to be done concerning the great division in this country, its foreign policies, and what is being taught in public schools. Pray that the Holy Spirit helps you and other believers to glorify the Lord and share Him with those in your circle.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 115:3
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Acts 12:1-19
12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
