Pray for our Leaders
We live in time of great political upheaval. In the last decade there have been six UK prime ministers. A new one is to be elected soon. Those granted power and authority can affect the lives of millions of people for good or for ill. The apostle Paul wrote that the establishment of government and authority in our world is part of God’s will: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God (Romans 13:1). It is unsurprising then that he urged us to pray for people in positions of authority: First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Respecting rulers and submission to the state (unless the state directs us to act against the will of God) gives Christ’s church credibility in the eyes of the world. We can do this in different ways: we can honour those in authority, pay taxes and, above all, pray for our rulers. In the above verse Paul urges us to pray for those in authority “first of all”. Intercession for these people is of primary importance. It is also true that if the state prospers, we will prosper. The prophet Jeremiah urged the Jews living in extol to: Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ (Jeremiah 29:7). Rather than despise the enemy nation in which they were living they were required to actively intercede for the grace of God poured out upon the pagan city of Babylon. The goal was not that they could simply lead a peaceful life but that there would be an orderly peaceful environment which would create the best conditions for the expansion of God’s kingdom.
We have seen this in the history of our own nation. The writer Dr Sharon James points out, “men and women such as William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury…were motivated by their deep Christian faith to change the world around them for the good of others…Without the impact of Christians following the teachings of Christ in the public square, the world would be less just, less free, less educated, more cruel, and more poor. Above all, it would be without hope – the ultimate hope of life in Christ.” In our own land legislation, enacted largely as a result of Christian campaigning, has impacted many areas of life including religious liberty, justice, healthcare, education, the sanctity of life, women’s rights, the emancipation of slaves, the environment, and even animal welfare.
Recently Tim Farron MP has urged Christians to pray for their parliamentary representatives and local councillors. He asks Christians who believe that God ordains authority and good government to pray for:
- serious, servant-hearted, competent people to be willing to step up: and for
- protection
- wisdom and
- strength for each of them.
We can also pray that our parliamentarians will know the fear of the Lord.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
