“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
1 Tim 2:1-4 (NIV)
William Penn on January 1, 1701 stated, “If man is not governed by GOD he will be governed by Tyrants.” The Bible in Psalms 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...”
As a country, our short history is tainted with a very interesting mix of leaders. We have had several wars, being the 3rd most corrupt country in the world, very high population, high levels of unemployment, etc, that have left the country wanting in terms of leadership. However, we have to recognize the fact that all leadership comes from God, and that it’s our responsibility as Christians to continually pray for those in positions of leadership above us for many reasons: -
• The decisions made by leaders influence large numbers of people in very major ways. Most of us greatly under-estimate the extent of their influence upon us.
• Secondly, though our leaders have to tackle numerous complex problems which are totally baffling, they are often rather ordinary men placed in extraordinary positions of responsibilities. Therefore, they need super-human wisdom and strength to tackle these problems.
• Thirdly, leaders often do not get the correct information to make wise decisions because they receive flatteries rather than truthful feedback. Therefore, we need to pray for them to be able to discern the right information to base their solutions on.
• Fourthly leaders are faced with dangers that others are less likely to encounter; e.g., they are targets of envy, slander and unfair criticism. If they are doing a good job, they also become prime targets of Satan - who hates to see men blessed by good government.
• Lastly, they are often victims of temptation because of their positions of power and wealth. Because of their power they often over-estimate their- true abilities and become too proud to listen to feedback or advice. They also tend to become unfeeling for the weak; and cruel, or they may abuse their power, or they may be tempted to grab more and more wealth or even to think that they are –“god.”
Prayer can take care of all these because "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Pro 21:1).
On the other hand, Christians also need to pray for and with each other. But we particularly need to support Christian leaders, whether in the church, or in society. Church leaders face many challenges - balancing the roles of pastor, priest, preacher, church leader, and administrator, besides other roles they may have such as husband or father. Those Christians in secular leadership positions face the challenge of remaining true to the gospel in a complex and difficult world. Like it or not, Christian pastors will have cast upon them heavy burdens of expectation, with society ready to condemn any weakness or mistake.
It’s our responsibility to pray "for all that are in authority" whether they are Christians or not. When Paul wrote this advice, the Jews were under Roman rule and all the kings in and around Israel were not only unbelievers but also persecutors of Christians. Logically, the more anti-Christian the ruler is; the greater the need for us to pray for him. Jews had all along prayed for heathen rulers that ruled them (Jer 29:7). However, four years before Jerusalem was destroyed, the Jews stopped praying for the Roman emperor. This was probably the human cause of why Jerusalem was destroyed. Jews who had converted to Christianity obeyed Paul's command to pray for their (Roman) rulers and were largely spared from suffering when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Paul writes that the benefits of praying for our rulers are that "we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” This refers primarily to freedom from religious persecutions (which greatly tormented the early Christians); so that Christians can practice their faith unhindered.
May our rulers lead us to aim for the simple quiet pleasures of a contented life (I Tim 6:8) of home and family, to a peaceable life of peace with God, with our loved ones, our neighbors, our circumstances and our own consciences. May our rulers continue to allow us to seek a life of godliness and honesty and not lead us to one of godlessness and greed. Let us pray that their sincere quest for the "greatest good for the greatest number" be indeed the true "greatest good".
Government Leaders: Christians must stay informed and communicate with their officials. Do not forget to praise them when they vote right and take correct stands.
"Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it." Proverbs3:27
Pray that our leaders will:
• Love the Truth: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
• Have Wisdom: "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you." Proverbs 4:5-8.
"Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts." Psalm 119:98-100.
• Display Courage and Integrity: "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9.
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3.
• Be Sharp in Insight and Quick in Discernment: "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.
• Surround Themselves with Good Staff Members and Advisers: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." Psalm 1:1.
"If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials become wicked." Proverbs 29:12.
"…for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisors.” Proverbs 24:6.
• 2 Chron 1:10 -- supernatural wisdom
• Prov. 4:11 divine guidance
• I Cor. l6:13 supernatural spiritual strength
• Ps. 18:1-2 "
• Ex. 15:2 supernatural physical strength
• I John 2:10 leadership that does not stumble
• Ps. 119:66, 169; Prov. 2:1-15, 22; II Sam. 22:33-35
• Ps. 35:1-10, 22-28
• Ps. 91 Reassurance: Ps. 27 through 31; Ps. 37
Enjoy God's Protection over Themselves and Their Families: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46:1-3
“Every man must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an angel of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” Romans 13:1-6 (NIV)
In Psalm 20, the Psalmist prays for the King:
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you held from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall but we rise up and stand firm.
O Lord, save the King! Answer us when we call!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you held from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he answers him from his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall but we rise up and stand firm.
O Lord, save the King! Answer us when we call!
The psalmist didn’t just ask God to bless the king; the psalmist blessed the king as well. He was also quite specific. If you were to meet the President face to face, would the first words out of your mouth be “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress?” What about in our prayers? Do we ask God to answer our Leaders’ prayers? Do we ask God to give them strength? Do we ask God to grant our Leaders the desires of their hearts and do what they ask him to do? Do we even stop to realize how good it is that our Leaders have lived through another day? Do we ask God to protect the lives of our Leaders? Do we encourage our Leaders to trust the LORD for victory in battle rather than putting all their trust in the awesome power of our military?
It is a simple thing to know that we should pray for our leaders or even to word a short one sentence prayer for them. What may not be so easy is for us to take the time to follow the biblical example of how we should pray for our leaders and to bless our leaders by calling upon God to hear their prayers, provide for their needs and grant their desires.
A prayer for our Leaders: By Sue Hess:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for our country, our Constitution, and our leaders. I pray for our President and for every elected and appointed official who serves with him.
I pray that You will build a spiritual wall of protection around the marriage and family of every national, state and local official.
I pray that You will rebuke Satan for the deception of his lie that we can be “as gods” in deciding for ourselves what is right or wrong.
O Lord, may our leaders cast down every law, policy and personal example which weakens marriages, families, or Your moral standards.
O Lord, I pray that You would protect and guide the men and women of the armed forces that are fighting in foreign lands to uphold the sanctity of the founding of this country.
I pray that our leaders will understand and follow the principle of Your Word. May they realize that all authority comes from You, not the voters, and that one day they will stand before You to give an account of the power You gave them.
I base this prayer on the promise of Your Word, that if I will humble myself, pray, seek Your face, and turn from my wicked ways, then You will hear from heaven, forgive my sin and heal my land.
In the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen!
“The Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
References and related pages:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=88170
http://www.timothyfish.net/Articles/Article.asp?ID=16
http://www.abetterhope.com/prayer/leaders.html
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/
www.apibs.org/sermons/sglcc980809.htm
www.prayforourleaders.org/
http://www.entourages.com/barbs/howtopray.htm
http://www.prayertower.net/Cal/Primer.htm
http://www.teal.org.uk/ep/pastor.htm
It is a simple thing to know that we should pray for our leaders or even to word a short one sentence prayer for them. What may not be so easy is for us to take the time to follow the biblical example of how we should pray for our leaders and to bless our leaders by calling upon God to hear their prayers, provide for their needs and grant their desires.
A prayer for our Leaders: By Sue Hess:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for our country, our Constitution, and our leaders. I pray for our President and for every elected and appointed official who serves with him.
I pray that You will build a spiritual wall of protection around the marriage and family of every national, state and local official.
I pray that You will rebuke Satan for the deception of his lie that we can be “as gods” in deciding for ourselves what is right or wrong.
O Lord, may our leaders cast down every law, policy and personal example which weakens marriages, families, or Your moral standards.
O Lord, I pray that You would protect and guide the men and women of the armed forces that are fighting in foreign lands to uphold the sanctity of the founding of this country.
I pray that our leaders will understand and follow the principle of Your Word. May they realize that all authority comes from You, not the voters, and that one day they will stand before You to give an account of the power You gave them.
I base this prayer on the promise of Your Word, that if I will humble myself, pray, seek Your face, and turn from my wicked ways, then You will hear from heaven, forgive my sin and heal my land.
In the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen!
“The Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
References and related pages:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=88170
http://www.timothyfish.net/Articles/Article.asp?ID=16
http://www.abetterhope.com/prayer/leaders.html
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/
www.apibs.org/sermons/sglcc980809.htm
www.prayforourleaders.org/
http://www.entourages.com/barbs/howtopray.htm
http://www.prayertower.net/Cal/Primer.htm
http://www.teal.org.uk/ep/pastor.htm
