This prayer for government and political leaders is based on promises from the Bible as we pray that God will give government leaders wisdom and fairness. It can be used as an ongoing prayer for government leaders or can be prayed after an election, a transfer of power or during times of government transition.
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Prayer for Government Leaders Using Scripture
Dear Ruler of the Universe,
We thank you that call us to live together under of the rule of law and under the leadership of governments of every kind. We look to your word in the Bible that tells us “that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – 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.” (I Timothy 2:1-3 NIV)
We are grateful for this strong word of guidance from a writer in an age when rulers could be good or bad and when the people had little or no say about who ruled or how they ruled. Therefore, give us the grace to pray for the good and the bad leaders alike, those we agree with and those we disagree with, as your Spirit empowers and leads us.
We stand on your promise that you can guide all those in leadership positions as it says in your Word, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21;1-3 NIV)
And so Father we pray for our government leaders that they will have guidable hearts. Help them to have a true sense of service. Fill them with a healthy realization that although they may exercise earthly power, You are ultimately in control of all destiny including theirs.
Fill them with a desire to obey the law of love which transcends all man-made laws. Grant them a desire to serve justice rather than convenience or personal political advantage.
Surround our government leaders with good advisors. We pray the grace of Proverbs 19:20 for them, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” We pray that you will add to their wisdom the gift of patience as it says in Proverbs 19:11 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
And we pray these men and women will be: “A (person) of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a (person) of understanding is even-tempered.” (Proverbs 17:27 NIV) Help our leaders to be quick to pray, quick to deliberate and quick to seek advice. Help them to be slow to speak or act on impulse, out of anger, pride, greed or desires to strengthen their own power and control.
We pray that our government leaders will establish domestic peace and prevent evil doers from prospering as it says in your Word, “A wise king winnows out the wicked.” (Proverbs 20:26 NIV) “Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.” (Provers 16:12 NIV) “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34 NIV) Guide our leaders in defending our communities from threats of lawlessness within our borders and from outside of our borders.
But most of all, give our government leaders a deep and abiding faith in you. We claim these promises for them today, “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” (Proverbs 20:27 NIV)
“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7) Give our leaders a strong, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd that our leaders might in turn be truly good shepherds of their flock You have entrusted to them.
We pray in the name of Christ the Everlasting King, Amen.
Related Links
Veterans Day Prayer
Fourth of July Prayer
Prayer for bosses and supervisors
Prayer for our country
Copyright Karen Barber 2012 All rights reserved.
prayerideas.org
As our nation finds itself in yet another highly divisive election season, our tendency can be to draw firm lines between ourselves based on which candidates we support, and that can in turn lead to personal dislike for one another, anger towards those who lead, and eventually division.
As Christians, we are to live in a fine balance; standing for that which is true while seeking unity amongst ourselves whenever possible, standing firm in the faith while showing grace to those who do not, holding our leaders accountable while praying for their wisdom and well-being.
We are to learn from the words of Ezekiel 22:30, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
We are to be those who stand in the gap, who lift up our nation with all it favors and faults before the throne of God, and pray that He continues to work in our midst.
Scriptures to Pray For Ourselves:
I Timothy 2:1-2 – 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.
I Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
>Romans 13:1 – Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Jeremiah 29:7 – Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
II Chronicles 7:14 – if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Scriptures to Pray for our Leaders:
>Psalms 2:10-11 – Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
>Proverbs 11:14 – For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
>Proverbs 21:1 – The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
>Job 12:23-25 – He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
>Proverbs 2:1-8 – My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2) turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3) indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4) and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6) For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7) He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8) for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
May we be faithful, informed and thoughtful when praying and talking to others about our politics, and as we ask for God’s wisdom and righteousness to be evident in our nation’s policies and leaders.
www.crosswalk.com
When we look beyond the picnics, parades, and fireworks that characterize our Independence Day celebrations, we remember that the holiday commemorates our nation’s birth.
This commemoration serves as a reminder to me to pray for our government leaders. This is a wise thing to do because the God we serve is all-powerful and nothing happens outside of His control. Moreover, the Bible instructs us to pray for those in high positions (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
It’s often easy to pray about one or two political issues that really matter to me. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but I always have to be careful not to confuse my personal opinions with Scriptural principles and God’s will. I’d like to think that my opinions always line up with Scripture, but I’m a fallen human being, so this isn’t always the case. I know that you’re fallen, too, so let’s all be careful to avoid praying self-motivated prayers. Let’s search Scripture and pray, allowing the Holy Spirit to impress God’s will upon us.
When we look beyond specific issues, it becomes evident that there are a number of general things we can pray for our leaders at the national, state, and local levels.
Pray they will have wisdom
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Proverbs 3:13-17
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17
Pray they will have integrity
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22
“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3
“A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.” Proverbs 16:11
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” Colossians 3:23
Pray they will not be self-seeking
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
Pray they will have wise advisers
“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers…” Psalm 1:1
Pray they will be safe
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.” Psalm 91:1-6
Pray they will have faith in God
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Do you pray for our government leaders? How do you stay motivated to do this? What things do you pray for them?
Shared on the following link-ups:
Word Filled Wednesday, Essential Fridays, WholeHearted Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday & Monday’s Musings.
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