Praying for the Nation and Its Leaders
Summer 2021
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:1,2).
When Paul calls for prayer for kings and for all in authority, he does not introduce anything new to the Christian’s practice. Centuries earlier, when Jeremiah wrote to the Jews in captivity in Babylon, he instructed them to “seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”
Such a precept is in keeping with what Paul writes in Romans13:1-4. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” A few verses later he states the purpose that civil authorities are to serve: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
The Christian may find himself challenged when those in authority seem to have little or no regard for good or evil, but only what serves their own personal ambitions. This is where prayer enters the picture. The Christian should pray that those that rule over him may distinguish right from wrong based on what God says in His word rather than by the direction the political winds are blowing. Deep down in his heart, every civil ruler does know right from wrong whether he’s a Christian or not (Romans1:32). Very often it can be a matter of needed courage more than a matter of knowledge of right and wrong. And so the Christian should pray that those in civil authority will not only have the right convictions, but will also have the courage of those convictions. Pray that they’ll be ruled by the fear of God rather than the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25).
Keep in mind that the civil authorities at the time Paul was writing to Timothy were not exactly God-fearing, Christ-honoring men. More than once Paul found himself being mistreated by the civil authorities. A number of his epistles, including this one to Timothy, were written from prison; however, he never lost sight that God was on the throne and that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). This is why we pray!
So how should the Christian pray for those in civil authority? He should pray that they would know something of the fear of the Lord and have a sense of their accountability to Him. Of course, the best way to learn the fear of the Lord is through salvation, so pray for the salvation of your civil rulers. Pray also that the Lord will keep restraints on whatever evil policies they may be contemplating and that the Lord would be pleased to raise up Daniels or Mordecais to influence them in the ways of the Lord. Finally, don’t forget to pray for yourself that, as the Lord gives you seasons of peace and quiet in answer to your prayers, you’ll make the most of such blessings by striving to live in all godliness and honesty. Pray as well for the needed grace to stand true to Christ no matter what laws contrary to God’s laws civil rulers impose on you. Even from a prison cell Paul was confident that the gospel would still advance (Philippians1:12-14). Therefore, all of the Christian’s praying, including his praying for civil authorities, should be subordinate to the petition Christ Himself gave us to pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”
Geoff Banister | Minister of Indianapolis FPC, Indianapolis, IN