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"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)
According to our biblical text, the four ways we should pray for our leaders are:
- Supplications (deesis): This means to seek or ask God.
- Prayers (proseuche): This means to plead earnestly with God.
- Intercessions (enteuxis): This is used only two times in the New Testament. It means to intercede, to visit, and to come together.
- Giving of thanks (eucharistia): This means to be grateful, to have sincere gratitude.
Verse 2 says "all who are in authority"; that would include leaders and politicians you dislike and did not vote for, as well as those you like and voted for. I did not vote for our current president, Joe Biden. Every day for almost four years now, I have prayed by name for President Joe Biden, Jill, Hunter, and Ashley. I pray that God protects them and that He saves them. You may ask, "How could you do that?" God told us to do this. This is not an option but a commandment from God that we as His people pray for our leaders. Why? Verse 2 says so we can live a great life that honors God and helps people.
In 1 Timothy 2:3, Paul says that it is good and acceptable to pray. It is always the right time to pray. Just like it is always a good time to do the right thing, it is always a good time to pray... but not necessarily with your eyes closed, like if you are driving!
Dr. James Merritt, who helped and blessed me as I prepared for this emphasis on faith and politics, said that our leaders may not always deserve our praise, but they always deserve our prayers. He also said that not every ruler is anointed by God, but all are appointed by God.
What about leaders who are pro-abortion, against traditional marriage, and opposed to religious liberty? We should pray for them even more! I will pray for but not vote for someone who supports abortion or gay marriage. I will likewise not vote for anyone who will muzzle the church, who believes there are more than two genders, who wants the government to fund "transitions" (i.e. sterilization and mutilation), who would allow "transitioning" of children (i.e. severe child abuse), or who is okay with boys going into girls' bathrooms or playing on girls' sports teams... but I will certainly pray for such people.
We as the children of God in this world should not be discouraged. The Lord God Almighty reigns. He is in control and bringing all things to their proper closure. I will conclude our devotional today with some biblical texts that speak to us of God's power:
Psalm 75:5-7: "'Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.' For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another."
Daniel 2:21: "And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding."
Daniel 4:17: "This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men."
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