First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [a]authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and [b]dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of theLord;
He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1
14 This is the confidence which we have [a]before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him 1 John 5:14-15
As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to pray for those in leadership. But the natural question is why? God accomplishes His will through the lives of His sons and daughters. If we who are called by His name fail to pray then nothing is accomplished and the enemy has a field day.
Some Christians will spend their lives simply complaining about the current state of things and all they are simply accomplishing is being a mouth piece for Satan. Complaining and being critical of those in leadership accomplishes nothing for God’s kingdom and simply sows seed of division and discord.
But for those who faithfully spend time in prayer and use the authority they have in Jesus Christ, great things are accomplished for God’s kingdom. The enemy will always thrive where prayer is limited to nonexistent. This stands for both nations and churches. Churches where there is little to no prayer will become spiritual dead and eventually may disappear. Nations where little prayer is taking place will in time spiral into chaos and destruction.
The reason we are called to pray for those in leadership is because it is the leaders of either a nation or a church who makes the decisions that drive that group of people. Whether you talk about a pastor or the leader of a nation they are a shepherd over a group of people. When we pray for those in leadership the Holy Spirit begins to work in their heart and in time as we continue faithfully in prayer the plans and purposes of God are accomplished and released.
But where many have failed in the body of Christ is they have abandoned the place of prayer. Instead they have acted like the generation that died in the wilderness who simply complained time and again. We must have the attitude of Caleb and Joshua who saw not the giants in the land but saw what God could do to the giants in the land.
God desires to impact every nation on the face of the earth with the gospel. But this will only come through faithful intercession from the lives of God’s people. Life and death are truly found in the power of the tongue. If we simply sit idly by and fail to pray we will watch the enemy have a field day. But if we will take up the authority we have in Christ Jesus and use that authority in prayer before the throne of our Father in Heaven, we will see the power and glory of God’s kingdom invade the earth.
Let us not complain and criticize those in leadership. May we intercede and pray for them daily. No matter our personal feelings of those in leadership, it is the Lord who holds their heart in His hands. There hearts can be changed and impacted for God’s kingdom. But again it will require us to faithfully intercede.
How should we pray for those in leadership? Things to pray for: that they would be filled with God’s wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and revelation. That they would have eyes to see and ears to hear. That God’s hand and protection be upon them. That God’s will be accomplished in their life. That God’s hand and protection be upon their family and their marriage. That every decision and step be accomplished according to God’s will.
We have a great responsibility as the body of Christ upon this earth. May we not waste our lives in empty pursuits. May our eyes be fixed upon the Lord and His soon return. May we hunger and thirst for righteousness and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. May we be the sons and daughters He has called us to be.
The Father's Heart 