Did you know that as Christians we are to pray for all
those who are in civil authority (1 Timothy 2:2)? They might not be godly men
or women, but still we are to pray for them. They might not be who we voted
for, but still we are to pray for them. We may not like their policies, but
still we are to pray for them.
Paul wrote these words to Timothy, a pastor in Ephesus
when the Emperor was Nero. One of the cruelest Roman Emperors, Nero had already
launched a bitter persecution against the Christians. Yet when Paul wrote to
Timothy he said don’t forget to pray for the Emperor, for Nero.
This reminds us that all forms of government come from
God’s hand. This is why rebellion against government itself is always wrong. We
may need to use the powers that are given to us in politics to change
governments, but government itself comes from God. So these men and women in
public office need our prayers.
We need to be careful how we pray as well. Some can pray
in a way that wants absolute success for officials we like and total defeat for
those we oppose. That’s not the way Christians are to pray. Consistently, no
matter who is in office, we are to pray for success. That he or she would carry
out an agenda that leads to the flourishing of the rest of society.
Pastor Charles Stanley has stated several things we
should pray for our leaders, especially the President.
1. Realize
their positions of authority were obtained either by God’s choice or His
permissive will.
2. Recognize
their personal inadequacy for the task of governing our country and look to the
Lord for wisdom, knowledge, and courage to succeed.
3. Readily
forsake their political careers and personal ambitions if it is necessary to do
so for the best interest of the country.
4. Restore
dignity, honor, trustworthiness, and righteousness to the office of the
Presidency, to the Senate, and to the House of Representatives.
5. Respect,
honor, and obey the Constitution of the United States, the protector of our
freedoms.
6. Reject
all council that weakens our defenses against aggressors or endorses agreements
that would do so in the future.
7. Refuse
to promote a way of life in which citizens of our nation become increasingly
dependent on the government for their needs, thus surrendering their freedom to
prosper.
8. Reverse
the destructive trends of humanism and atheism which attempt to dethrone God
and deify humanity, because they ultimately result in an ungodly society.
9. Remember
their accountability to the almighty God for their attitudes, motives,
behaviors, and decisions that affect our nation.
Let us pray for our leaders so we may live a peaceful and
tranquil life (1 Timothy 2:2b).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark "the Bru" Brunott
P.S. Do you want to excel in your education? Are you
still learning and growing even though you’re out of school? How do I thrive
when I live in a secularized society? Join me this Sunday at 9:15 and 11:00 as
we explore these questions.
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