I think that in our American culture it is difficult for us to understand the concept of a king. I’ve never particularly liked authority anyways so seeing God as my King has never been the most natural connection. It’s relatively easy for me to see God as my Father and friend. I enjoy pondering the idea that he has my best interest at heart and wants to see me prosper. I don’t particularly like however, being told what to do. Definitely not by people and it’s a struggle when it comes to God.

God is the King of the universe. The King of kings and Lord of lords. This is incredibly important for us to understand. People in ancient cultures with a king understood some things about how to behave in the king’s presence. They had a different understanding when it came to authority. When the king told you to do something, he wasn’t making a suggestion. He was telling you what to do and he had the authority to back it up. You wouldn’t go into his presence with all kinds of suggestions and ideas about how he should change things. Humbling yourself went without saying because you knew you were in the presence of someone who had the final say in the land.

Because of the political environment we have in America, the idea of a king is incredibly foreign to most of us. It doesn’t even really compute. We’re used to the idea of democracy where our vote matters and politicians exist to serve us. I know I don’t generally think about the fact that our universe has a government and it is not a democracy; it’s a monarchy. How often do we think about the fact that we live in the context of an eternal monarchy? There is a King that rules over the universe who possesses absolute authority.

I know when I pray I often don’t talk to God as though he were a King. I want to see this change. All of us have to reconcile with the fact that he’s not merely making suggestions as to how you should live your life. He’s not presenting you with ideas for your consideration either. He is giving you commands that are to be obeyed. Now he also happens to be a more loving being than we could ever imagine but that truth should not cloud the reality that he is the King.

When we enter the King’s presence to pray we should acknowledge who we’re speaking to and act accordingly. One key understanding is simply recognizing that our role is to submit to him completely understanding that he is in charge. It’s his universe. Your life is his along with everything that you have. He has entrusted those things to you for the time being but you don’t really own anything.

I believe there is great freedom in the recognition of God as absolute King. Many of us carry ourselves as though we were in charge of our own lives. While this can occasionally be a pleasant delusion, it also carries with it great stress. We weren’t designed to be in charge but rather to submit. We were designed to yield our will to the King of heaven and earth. As we learn to do this, we will find ourselves living in a rhythm that is far more consistent with our core makeup and wiring. Do you feel like you’re in charge of your own life? Are you stressed out because of it? Perhaps it’s time to enter the King’s presence and lay your plans, dreams, goals and everything else at his feet.