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Praying For Leadership #77
By Joseph Prescia

One cannot think of any current U.S. politician that sets an example as high as the example of believers in the Bible. Just because one claims to be “Christian” or “moral” does not necessitate godly behavior. It’s very easy for a politician to enjoy the benefits of “power” in government and to get sidetracked by the system. The system encourages incumbency by any means at the expense of compromising morals.

For instance, a politician might know that lower taxes and less government regulations encourage individual freedom for ALL. But when the time comes to vote for or against these items, the pressure (or more accurately fear) causes them to vote against their conscience. They knew what was morally right but yielded to the fear of not getting re-elected. Their advisors suggested that they vote a certain way for the sake of their careers.

This is just one example on why we need to pray for our government and spiritual leadership throughout our country. The believers in the Bible stood for God with life threatening conviction. Today we have very few willing to stand for something that high and glorious. Instead, personal egos, re-election fears, and political envy and strife have supplanted trust in God, individual integrity, and what’s best for God’s people. We are instructed in Scripture to pray for those “in authority” (leadership).

1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (KJV)

We don’t want religious zealots from the far left or the far right enslaving us with their religious doctrine. Their new laws can bind our freedom to choose, to excel, and to be our best for God and society. We pray for them “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” In other words, “stay out of our lives so that we can live quiet and peaceable by our own choosing.” The Bible not only tells us that we should pray but also tells us what to pray for and why we should pray.

?We can pray for those in authority that we lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:1,2).

?Since society cannot change without a change of heart first, we can pray for the movement of the Word of God into the hearts of millions of people around the world (II Thessalonians 3:1, Matthew 6:21, Romans 10:9,10, Ephesians 4:18).

?Everyone needs to be filled with spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Reading the Scriptures, studying His Word and praying are absolutely necessary. For an individual to be right before God they have to know the will of God. (Colossians 1:9).

These are just a few of the many things that God instructs believers to pray about. The Word of God can totally enlighten our understanding about life (Ephesians 1:16-23).

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