How to pray for your civic leaders
Easier said than done
The early church was surrounded by political leaders that were either entirely ambivalent about them or intent on crushing them.
At the earliest stages, Christians were surrounded by those who wanted nothing to do with them…or worse…
And, if we are being honest, many of us have probably not been in a situation like this and, if we have, it probably wasn’t because we are Christians.
And yet…
1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Even surrounded by enemies, we are taught to pray for our political leaders!
How much more should we be lifting up our civic leaders in prayer when they are also working for our good?
This is a short one, but you can see in this passage that we can pray for our civic leaders by asking Our Father to give them the guidance for peace, quiet, and holiness.
And that…is a simple thing to do, but far more difficult when our political leaders don’t align with our beliefs.
My prayer for today
Our Father, thank you for guiding countless world leaders before now and for the ones who heed your call in the present. Jesus, give us the strength to pray for those we disagree with. Spirit, bless our world, broken as it is, for the betterment of the Kingodm. Amen.
Remember
Set your own political affiliations aside, your own agenda, and pray for a civic leader of your choice. Don’t worry if it’s difficult at first, I am sure Christians in the early church struggled to pray for Emperor Caligula as he fed Christians to lions.