“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.”
(I Timothy 2:1-3)

Thoughts… If the Apostle Paul were writing this today to 21st century American believers, he’d probably say, “Make sure you pray for the president and congress—Republican and Democrat, conservatives and liberals alike. It’s in your best interest to lift them daily before the Father’s throne. And besides, it pleases God when you pray for politicians.”

That is a hard pill to swallow these days with the rapscallion Republicans and disingenuous Democrats who are ruling our land. If you are like me, you find their hypocritical lifestyles, their pandering politics, their out-of-control spending, and the blatant disregard for God in their politics odious. Frankly, it’s hard for me to pray for them. Perhaps Paul just didn’t foresee the kinds of political leaders we would have to put up with, much less pray for.

But wait just a minute! Did you ever consider who the emperor was when Paul wrote these words, and what condition were during that period of time? The emperor was none other than Nero—one of the worst of the worst of all the Roman emperors. Without going into all the horrific details, Nero was responsible for some of the worst persecution against Christians at any time in history.

And Paul says to the believers of his day, “Pray for him. Intercede on his behalf…even thanking God for his leadership.” Huh? That’s right! Paul wanted the church to pray for this horrible man so that God would use his leadership as a launching pad for the propagation of the Gospel.

Wow! If the believers of Paul’s day could pray for a leader like that—a man that was bent on torturing and killing them, then there is no legitimate reason I can come up with to resist praying during this political season for the man, or perhaps woman, who will be my president.

I am obligated to pray, intercede, and be grateful to God on their behalf. When I do, I demonstrate that I am a believer not just with a political view, but with a truly Christian world-view. And better still, I invite Divine pleasure into my life by taking such a godly posture.

I don’t know about you, but I think I will pray for my leaders today!

Prayer… Dear Father, I lift the President and the leaders of Congress to you today. I pray for their well-being and wisdom. Give them courage and resolve to do the right thing. I ask that you use them as your instruments to create the kinds of conditions in which the Gospel will best grow. Thank you for them. Bless them. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

One More Thing… “We must win rulers; political, economic, scientific, artistic personalities. They are the engineers of souls. They mould the souls of men. Winning them, you win the people they lead and influence.” — Richard Wurmbrand