PRAY FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

Ask God to help them;

intercede on their behalf,

and give thanks for them.

Pray this way for kings

and all who are in authority

so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives

marked by godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleases God our Savior.”

I Timothy 2:1-3 NLT

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We are living in troubled times. Our nation is involved in several military conflicts – one longer than any war we have ever been involved in. It has cost us thousands of precious lives and billions upon billions of dollars. Poor financial management on every level has brought us into deep financial problems - lost jobs – bankruptcies – foreclosures and a skyrocketing national debt – resulting in our nation losing its AAA credit rating. People of every political persuasion are angry and are expressing themselves in no uncertain terms. It’s easy to get caught up in the hateful, negative criticism of our president and elected officials.

 

But as Christians, we have a higher calling than to fill people’s ears and inboxes with corrosive ranting over our broken national economy, and blaming our political leaders for causing it or allowing it to happen.

 

Paul writes Timothy, I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Our higher calling is to pray for all people - not just for our family and close friends - and those who treat us right, but even for people who may treat us like dirt at times. We are to pray even for our enemies. Ask God to help them; that their needs may be met – intercede on their behalf - pleading with God that they will put their trust in Jesus and be saved - and give thanks for them. Even the worst of people have some merit for which we can be grateful.

 

Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority. Our higher calling is not only to pray for people we commonly associate with, but also for governmental and civil leaders - for the president – judges – members of our national or state senate and congress as well as local officials - whether we voted for them or not. (Even the most inept or cruelest leaders are better than no leaders.) Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. - so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.