Corruption? That’s a heart problem.

Pork-barrel politics? Another heart problem.

Inability to vote yes or no, only present? Yup, a heart problem.

Name-calling? Heart problem.

Stagnation and indecision? Heart problem.

Greed? Heart problem.

Now is the time for Christians to band together in one body to pray like we’ve never prayed before. It is way past time for us to pray for our President, our Presidential candidates, our congressmen, our senators, their aides and assistants, the President’s cabinet, leaders on Wall Street, leaders on Main Street, and each other. This fiasco has gone way beyond who will get elected this November and is directly tied to the state of our leaders’ hearts. If we could see them the way God sees them, what would their hearts look like?

God sees our motives, our intentions, our inner thoughts. He sees when we are putting ourselves above those we should be serving. What do the hearts of our leaders look like to him? Are they made of stone? Are they pumping darkness with every beat, planning out ways to get rich off each other and their country? Are they so intoxicated with power that they lose the perspective of who they serve?

But let us not be depressed or downhearted. God has seen everything the devil can do to human hearts, and he has used extraordinary means to accomplish his purposes. Throughout history, he has used unlikely people in highly unusual ways and has performed miracles and wonders when his people turn to him humbly and seek his face.

Here are just a few examples:

From Joshua 5:

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.

Lord, please dry up the river of greed that flows not just from our leaders’ hearts, but from our hearts as well. Give us dry ground and safety so we can cross this difficult time.

From 1 Samuel 13:

“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!

Lord, you have already appointed the coming leaders of this nation, and I pray that your will be done and that the leaders you have chosen will seek your heart just as David did. I pray that you will rally the hearts of our nation so we will once again be ONE nation under God and that there will not be 600 left on this side or 600 left on that side. I pray we will all turn and seek your heart.

From 2 Samuel 15:

When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn’t let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

Father, I pray that like Absalom, the leaders you have chosen for our nation will have servant hearts and will lead by serving. I pray that they will “steal the hearts” of all Americans — that the leaders you have appointed will refuse to let the common man bow to them but will instead wash the feet of the ones they have been elected to serve. I pray they will not be filled with greed and power and the love of money, but that instead you will turn their hearts towards the satisfaction that comes from service and a job done to the best of their abilities.

From 1 Kings 14

Give your husband, Jeroboam, this message from the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I promoted you from the ranks of the common people and made you ruler over my people Israel…But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted. You have done more evil than all who lived before you. And since you have turned your back on me, I will bring disaster on your dynasty will raise up a king over Israel who will destroy the family of Jeroboam. This will happen today, even now!

Lord, I don’t ask that you destroy anyone’s family, but I do ask that you destroy the spirit of evil that lurks. Indeed, you have already won! I pray that today, even now, you will restore your favor to us by finding those who do seek your face. Elevate them to places of leadership, and guard their hearts from the corruption that winds its way through our nation’s capital.

From 2 Kings 23:

The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant…. Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

You’ve told us that there will never be another king like Josiah. Father, I ask you to bring our nation a leader who would be at least somewhat like Josiah! I plead with you, Lord, to bring us leaders who turn to you with all their hearts and souls and strengths.

2 Chronicles 30:

At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.

Lord, I ask you for a mighty revival to sweep through our nation. Stir us up, Lord…stir us up to obedience and servant hearts. Curb the crime that riddles our dark alleys and schools. Place your hand in the United States, Lord, and give us all one heart to obey the leaders you have appointed who we, in faith, believe will be following your word.

2 Chronicles 36:

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the Lord’s people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!”

Oh, Lord, that you would stir the hearts of all our leaders and also of us who fall under their realms. Stir our hearts to do your will, just as you stirred the heart of King Cyrus, who rebuilt the Temple. Please be with us, God, so that we can work our faith out together.

Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.

Lord, I ask that you will guide President Bush’s heart like a stream of water. I specifically pray for Senator McCain and Senator Obama and for their campaign staffs. I pray you will guide their hearts “wherever” you please.

Jesus tells us we don’t have enough faith. It’s time to rise up and put on our faith shoes and our faith shields and our faith shirts, faith pants, faith purses, and faith belts. Let’s put some faith on, so we can accomplish much!

From Matthew 17:
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. ”

Nothing. Would. Be. Impossible. Notice the word nothing? It means nothing! Do you know how tiny a mustard seed is? I do, because we tried to grow a plant this spring (didn’t work). It was so small that even my little size-3-ring-fingers could barely grasp them to plant. It must have been incredibly difficult to plant a crop of mustard plants back in Jesus’ day. The people he was speaking to knew exactly how much faith they needed to have — a smidgen. Just a little bit.

I will leave you with this encouraging word from James 5:

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Since we are praying AND we have faith, this mountain of trouble in our country is getting ready to move. The hearts of our leaders are softening, opening up to the call of the Lord. Can you feel those mountains trembling under God’s mighty hand? Pray with me, people! Rise up, get your faith clothes on, and PRAY.