Praying For Leaders
Paul writes this to Timothy: "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. This is good, and pleases God our Savior," (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV11)
When I began pastoring my current church in Boksburg, I would teach a weekly lesson at a local school in town. Once I was taking the students through the five-fingered prayer that I mentioned yesterday. The middle finger is the tallest finger, which is supposed to remind you to pray for the 'highest' people in the land - president, government, etc. One of the kids was flummoxed by this. He could not understand this at all. But they're evil, he argued. Why would I pray for this corrupt, evil leadership in SA?
Why We Should Pray for Ungodly Leaders
I said they need our prayers more than anybody. At the time Paul wrote this, Nero was in power, perhaps the most evil of all kings or authorities. He was getting more and more anti-Christian by the day - eventually in AD 64 a great fire broke out in Rome, which he blamed on the Christians. The church was under tremendous attack in those days from all directions, led by those in authority.
What does Paul say? Pray for them. I'm sure he was thinking pray that they come to faith. Pray that these kings and authorities come to know Jesus and change their ways.
Paul longs for his people, the Christians, to be able to live peaceful and quiet lives instead of having to duck and dive and hide from the authorities the whole time.
Are we praying enough for our country? For our leaders? For God to touch their lives and change their thinking? For God to raise up godly young leaders who can influence the next generation for the good?
A Hole Only God Can Fill
Stormie Omartian is well known for her books on prayer. She's written books like The Power of a Praying Husband… Wife… etc. After the tragedy of 9/11 in New York, she wrote a book called The Power of a Praying Nation. Here's what she writes in the intro: "Today there is a hole in the heart of our nation that only God can fill. We have a pain in our souls that only God can heal. Our country is weighed down with a burden of grief that only God can carry. He wants to do all that and more. God wants to bring new life where there has been death. He wants to bring restoration where there has been loss. He wants to not only raise us up again, but to take us to new heights. But that can only happen if we turn to Him with a humble and pure heart, seek His face and His ways, and pray like never before. Let's do all that so we can unite this country in prayer and see the power of God move on our behalf."
I couldn't help but think of South Africa, when I read that! A hole in the heart of this country that only God can fill. Weighed down with a burden only God can carry. God wants to raise us up again, but that can only happen if we turn to Him and pray like never before!
What if God is not done with our country yet, but we are the ones who gave up and stopped praying too soon?
What if a great revival is around the corner, if we would lead the way in prayer?
How to Pray for Your Nation
PRAY for this land. PRAY that God works mightily in the hearts of our authorities. PRAY that people and policies are put in place that can help address the unemployment crisis and the water and electricity crisis and the crime crisis and the corruption crisis.
God can change hearts, and He can change nations. Let's hear Paul's urgency and take that same urgency to our prayer time as we lift up our nation to the Lord.
Paul tells Timothy to treat everyone in the church as he would his own father, mother, brother or sister. Pick one person this week - at church or at home - and speak to them with the respect you have been withholding.