You know the Bible teaches that in the last days before Christ’s return our world would go topsy-turvy and become perilous. Well, I think that’s a perfect description of the time in which we are now living.
- It is during times like these that we need an anchor.
- It is in time and days like these that we need to become people of prayer ... prayer warriors.
- Yes, we Christians are to pray for our needs and the church’s needs; but our prayers are to extend far beyond the walls of our local churches. Our call to prayer must be extended for our leaders. The call to prayer for our leaders and our nation is so desperately needed and our mandate to do so is evident in the pages of God’s Word.
I Timothy 2:1-4
"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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Not only are we to pray for all men in general, but as that scriptures says, we are to pray specifically “for kings, and for all that are in authority” (I Timothy 2:2)
This means we are to pray for them:
- No matter how good or bad they are
- No matter what political party they belong to ... whether Democrat or Republican
- No matter whether they are conservative or liberal
- No matter how moral or immoral they may be
- No matter how just or unjust they might be
- We should pray for those in authority because God put them there
We need to understand that it is our responsibility to pray for those in authority ... and that they are there by the will of God and He will remove them as He sees fit to accomplish His ultimate plan.
Daniel 2:21 "And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
Romans 13:1 "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."
Yes, our country is currently going through a crisis on foreign shores. However, I’m reminded of what my history books taught me of how this same nation was war-torn and weary in the midst of the Civil War, and victory in the long struggle was anything but certain ... then the President received a resolution asking him to declare a national day of prayer.
Here is part of his response: "We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us," he wrote, "And have vainly imagined that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."
With those words, President Abraham Lincoln called on all Americans to turn to God in prayer for a quick outcome to the Civil War.
Now I’m no president ... but I think it fitting that pause a pray for our President ... that God will give him wisdom and discernment in every decision he makes. I think it fitting that we pause and pray just as President Lincoln did and ask God "for a quick outcome to the Crisis in Iraqi and Afghanistan; and ask for his protection on our Armed Forces. So please join me and pray ... and lets ask God to give the President of these United States all the appropriate knowledge he needs to lead our nation by sound biblical principles and doctrines.
Let us go to the Lord together.
All wise and eternal God. Creator of both heaven and earth and all that dwell within. We beseech thee oh heavenly Father ... coming to you in intercession and supplication for President George W. Bush, his cabinet and all of those whom you have allowed to be in leadership in this blessed country of ours.
We come right now Lord asking for your guidance and protection. We come right now Lord asking that you grant President Bush the serenity to know that there is no war, no famine, no crises, nor circumstance that is bigger than you. You ask the question of your servant Abraham "is there anything too hard for the Lord." Moreover, I pray that he will find that same answer, and believe in his heart that as long as he has You, then he has more than enough. As long as he has You, then he is more than a conqueror. Your scriptures tell us "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." and that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate [him] us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So we want complain about what his critics are saying about him... we just thank you for the fact that he is a man who is not ashamed to declare that he believes in You an your Son Jesus Christ.
I just pray Lord God ... that you give him the courage to stand tall even when he feels like he has to stand all by himself. Thank you God for a President who had the courage to say NO, and vote NO on bills that are totally contrary to your word. I thank you Heavenly Father for giving him the courage to say that same sex marriage is wrong and is a abomination to God. Please give him the boldness to look at that new aged philosophy and religion that is sweep this country called "tolerance" in the eye and SAY NO to abortion, and that morning after pills. We thank you Heavenly Father for a Godly president.
Lord wipe the tension of stress and uneasiness that is apparent on his face away. I pray that the lines that wrinkle his brow not be lines of despair in these oh so troubled time ... but they be lines of wisdom that can only come from you.
Lord give the President and his cabinet the peace which passes all understanding ... guide his heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
As he leads us ... I pray that he continues to follow you. Please guide his footsteps and light his paths during these dark and dreary times in which we live.
Speak to him Heavenly Father just as you spoke to the leaders of old ... clearly so that he will know that without a doubt that it is you. Burn like a mighty bush in his life and reveal to him your guided direction. Reveal to him your sovereign plan for our nation.
We pray for your protection on his life. Not only physically protection, but also spiritually, emotionally and yes Lord ... even politically. We hold up his wife Laura to you and their children. Build a hedge of protection around them a keep them all from hurt, hard and danger.
And Lord when the mountains of circumstances seem too hard to climb. And the nights of seem the darkest and it looks like there is no hope; and his way seem to hard to bear ... I pray that you be a sanctuary to him ... and allow him to find a resting place in your love.
Build him up where he is torn down. Strengthen Him where he is weak; prop him up on every leaning side.
Lord be with Him and this nation and bring a speedy resolution to the crisis in Iraq, Afghanistan and the other troubled spots of this world.
Lord we pray for our Armed Forces ... they tells that the war is over, and yet everyday another Solider is coming home in a body bags. We need thee ... oh Lord we need thee every hour. Lord, we also pray for men like Vice President, Richard Chaney; and Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld. We thank you heaven Father for our modern day Esther’s ... like Condoleeza Rice and Gale Norton ... women who have taken a bold stance to stand up and serve their country for such a time as this.
We read in your infallible word in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
So Lord I pray for all that in authority in our Federal Government. I pray that they lean not on their own understanding; that they lean not in the ways that seem right in the eyes of fellow man. I pray Lord that they lean not in the ways of politics; that they lean not in the ways of bipartisanship; that they lean not in the way caring more about themselves, than the people whom they were elected to serve ... but in all of their ways, they acknowledge you. I pray that they come to know you as their Lord and Savior and balance every decision that they make up against your word and ask ... what would Jesus do.
Incline your ear and hear ... this is my plea to thee, and we ask it all in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.
