Praying for Our Government Leaders

 “It is a great privilege, as well as our responsibility, 

to pray for our government leaders.”  Billy Graham

 When we see through the eyes of prayer we see people as persons. The word person comes from the Latin words per and sonare which mean “sounding through.” When we see people as persons we “sound through” any outward appearance and see them through the eyes of God and prayer. 

  All persons are valuable, not just the ones we like or the ones culture says have value. We look past outward appearances and see the unique person, the apex of God’s creation, a person for whom Christ died. Prayer gives us eyes to see and alters our relationship to others made in the image of God. 

  Do we truly believe in the power of prayer? When a loved one or friend is ill, we’ll pray and ask others to pray as well. Why? Hopefully, it’s because we believe in the power of prayer. 

  It’s noteworthy that while we’re commanded to pray, we are never commanded to complain. Yet, the one thing that most of us do (I’m guilty), when it comes to government and elected officials is complain. The Bible commands us to pray for them. It’s not optional. Have you ever wondered what would happen, if instead of complaining about government, we prayed for our governmental leaders. The results would astound us. 

  One reason that we don’t pray for them is that we often forget that they are also Imago Dei, made in the image of God. It’s wrong for us to be “prayer bigots” and only pray for those that we like or agree with. 

  Part of our worship service includes praying for government officials because the Bible commands us to: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

  How are we to pray for them? 

  We’re to pray for their salvation. “Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” From the President to the zoning board member, each person’s greatest need is salvation – to know that Jesus Christ died for their sin, that they can be forgiven, and He will radically transform their life if they will surrender to Him. The greatest difference we can make in our country is not in the voting booth or by complaining on social media or other places. It’s in our prayer closet. 

  And we’re to pray for all of them, not just the ones we agree with. Some time back we had someone stomp out of church and give us a piece of their mind because we had dared to pray in church for an elected official they despised. We are to pray for our “enemies” (Matthew 5:44) and friends! 

  We need to thank God for them. While we may not be thankful for their decisions or character or choices, we’re to be thankful that God has placed them there. Our viewpoint is so limited. Our Sovereign God uses even evil rulers to accomplish His will. He used Pharaoh and his enslavement of the Jews to make them long to return to the Promised Land. He used Nebuchadnezzar as His rod of correction to punish Israel because of their continued disobedience to the Covenant and idolatry. He even used Caesar’s tax plan to drive Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. Even when it seems that human government is out of control, God is still sovereign and in complete control. 

  We need to pray that they will govern with justice and righteousness. God is a God of perfect justice, yet this is an unjust world. Much of this injustice happens to the poor. While our world cares little for the powerless, a constant theme of Scripture is that God specifically cares and takes up the cause of the powerless, minorities, and the economically and physically challenged. Our hope must be in God who is the ultimate Judge. 

  Do we have those who are afflicted, needy, oppressed, and victims of violence today? Yes, their numbers literally reach into the millions. Do our rulers care about the oppressed? Too often no. Political scientists tell us that government and politics operate with, one common ingredient, power. From Machiavelli to Idi Amin, those who have risen to the top in government normally do so by mastering the art of exercising power. It’s why we must pray to our omnipotent God that justice will be done here on earth as it will someday be done in Heaven. 

  We need to pray that as they govern they promote peace and stability. When there is a lack of peace, it is those who are most vulnerable who suffer the most – children and the poor. In a peaceless world, it seems hopeless to pray for peace and stability. Hope in God’s intervention is our motivation to continue to pray and work for peace. Our ultimate trust is in God, not in politics, policies or weapons of war. God is the God of peace and His peace is the only hope of true peace in our world. 

  We need to pray for prosperity. Not all suffering is caused by wars. While nearly 400,000 have died from Covid-19 in the USA, 2 million have died worldwide. Too often though we have “red, white and blue eyes.” We fail to consider worldwide ramifications of our national policies. The causes of hunger and poverty are diverse and complex, but we can pray that our leaders will have the courage and compassion to wisely make decisions that will help those suffering around the globe. As one poster says: “How can we help two billion hungry people? One at a time.” That’s simple, but not simplistic. It’s a way of saying that we have to start somewhere, instead of being immobilized with shock and by the enormity of the need. We can pray that those in power in America and other relatively prosperous countries will see the folly of devoting the greatest share of their foreign aid to building up the military might of even the poorest of countries. We can pray that basics like food and clean water will abound in these lands. 

  As Christians, we must not sit back and accept whatever comes. God has commanded us to fight on our knees for our leaders and our Country! 

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