Is God really in charge?

Some years ago, I came across a prayer posted on Facebook by some prophet praying for the President, and since then I have seen several prayers of such a nature. The prayer said in part:

“Let every COFFIN they have prepared for the President catch fire right now and burn to ashes in Jesus mighty name. Let every shrine and every evil altar bearing the President’s image catch fire in the mighty name of Jesus. May the place they are monitoring him from catch fire and collapse in Jesus name. Every coven assigned to monitor his life with whatever gadgets they are using be stricken with blindness in the name of Jesus. May every spell, sickness or disease manufactured from the underworld that will seemingly appear as a genuine medical problem expire by fire in Jesus name.”

Prayers like this one have an underlying theology, and they force us to ask the all-important question: who is in charge? Is it God? Is it the devil and his evil spirits? Is it man? Who exactly is in charge of the happenings of life? Who determines what happens, when it happens, how it happens and to whom it happens? People who see the need to declare and decree even death clearly believe the devil is in charge and in control of what is happening on this earth. They are convinced that the devil can frustrate the purposes of God, and therefore, they have to help God by unlocking his power!

Thankfully God has not left us in the dark on this matter, for the Bible is very clear on who is in charge and in control on the earth. The following texts show us that God is indeed sovereign:

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35).

“Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps” (Psalm 135:6).

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

God is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords…to him be honor and eternal dominion” (1 Timothy 6:15, 16).

Our God has both the authority and power to do as he pleases, and no one can stop him. Furthermore, nothing happens on this earth that is outside of God’s purposes because whatever happens in this world has been decreed by God. God’s decrees include:

TIME OF DEATH: “Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5).

GOVERNING OF NATIONS: “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

APPARENTLY ACCIDENTAL SMALL DETAILS: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33). “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29, 30).

NATURAL DISASTERS: “Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it?” (Amos 3:6).

ELECTION UNTO SALVATION: “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad – in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call” (Romans 9:11).

ULTIMATE DESTINY OF THE WICKED: “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

The fact that God is in total control of the all the affairs and happenings of the world is both a comforting and humbling truth. It is comforting because I know that all that happens in my life is in His hands and nothing can or will happen that God has not allowed. It is also comforting to know that the devil and his minions are not on the rampage doing as they please. At the same time it is humbling to think that such a great and mighty God should love sinners such as us and shower us with His amazing grace.