“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul urged the young Timothy and us to this very day, to pray for those in authority over us. This includes praying for the one who sits in the highest office in our land, the President of the United States, as well as our Governor, and all the way down to elected officials in our local governments.
At times, if we are honest with ourselves, we do not always have the desire to pray for our leaders especially when our leaders are promoting policies that are clearly anti-Biblical. It is difficult to have the desire to pray for our nation’s leader, President Joe Biden when he is promoting unbiblical policies on issues like life, marriage, gender, and much more. Nevertheless, Scripture commands us to pray for President Biden.
The Apostle Paul himself understands this difficulty. When he penned these very words, Nero was the emperor, and he was a notoriously cruel ruler. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy when Nero was actively persecuting Christians in the land. The persecution was absolutely ruthless, Christians were being publicly butchered, set on fire as human candles in Nero’s garden, and being fed to animals.
The Biblical command, however, is clear, we are to pray for those in authority regardless of our personal feelings about them. We are to pray for our rulers with joy and confidence knowing that God holds the hearts of kings in His hand and that he can turn their hearts whenever and however He chooses (Proverbs 21:1).
LET US PRAY . . .
Father, help us as Your people, to be diligent in fulfilling Your command to pray for those in authority over us. Lord, we pray for President Biden, and we ask that You turn his heart toward You. Father, may he turn away from promoting policies that are antithetical to Your Word. Lord, we pray for all those in authority over us that we may be able to lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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