I have to admit. I haven't prayed much for the leaders of our nation. Or of our state.
Oh, my intentions have been good. When the pandemic of 2019 first started....or at least when we here in New York State first heard about it, I did offer up a prayer of wisdom for our Governor (although I don't always agree on his politics/policies) and I prayed safety over our leaders. I did pray for my work colleagues and our director that she would be healthy and use wisdom in leading our agency through this new normal of teaching. I prayed for my church leaders. But, I do admit I didn't pray for the leader of this nation. In fact, if I'm honest, I actually cannot tolerate that man.
Yet. I'm called to pray for him.
Yikes.
I've prayed for our nation. But I haven't specifically prayed for the leaders. Until our next president came on the scene. I do confess to praying that he would win. No, I didn't pray for God's will. I prayed specifically that Joe would win. I don't believe there's anything wrong with that. I do believe I was wrong not to pray more for all of our leaders during the last 4 years.
WHY?
Because look at the Scripture in the photo. Here it is from my NKJV:
"Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all goodness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." ~I Timothy 2:1-3~
This Scripture was part of my reading in a study about Hosea that I am working on. Israel had rejected God during Hosea's time. He had Hosea marry Gomer and it's a picture of just how Israel had neglected God Almighty. Those kings in power at that time were some of the most evil kings on the earth. And yet God's people were called to pray. We have rejected God here in America. I don't expect every American to be a Christ follower. Of course not! We are a diverse nation with all kinds of religions and beliefs and I try to respect others' beliefs, cultures and traditions. I want to be respectful and love my neighbor. But when push comes to shove, as Christ followers, many of us have placed a political party above our God. Or at least some people who claim to be Christ followers based on observations and social media posts I see!
We care more about the state of our nation than the state of our souls. At least it sure seems that way to me.
If we as Christ-followers believe that Scripture is God-breathed....that He used Timothy to teach us something....then we need to see this Scripture as a command. Oh, if we don't do this, it won't send us to hell. Of course not! The path to hell is when we don't accept, believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
I'm confessing that I didn't follow this command very well in the last 4 years.
I believe I can do better and I believe that things in our nation will be better.
I'm purposing in my heart and before God to lift up the new administration this week. In fact, I want to pray more consistently for all of my leaders.
I'm praying that there will be a smooth transition.
I'm even going to pray for the outgoing man...that he would realize his need. That he would be humbled.
and in that prayer, may I be humbled to know that no one is perfect. That I need to confess sin just as much as my neighbor, my spouse, my children, my friends, my colleagues, my leaders.
And that in praying for these leaders, we would lead quiet and peaceful lives.
Lives that don't need to be shouting our rights from the rooftops.
You don't have to be in the same political party as me to pray for our leaders.
You don't have to agree with anything I have said here. But I do know from experience that prayer works. God answers prayer in some way. Always. Eventually. In His time.
Let's live lives of prayer.
Lives that exemplify the love of God, as commanded in "the golden rule'. As Christ followers, we are to love the Lord our God with all of our mind, with all of our souls, and with all of our strength. We are also to obey the 2nd great command: To love our neighbor (that's every single human being!) as ourselves.
I believe things will be better.....
because prayer changes things.
3 comments:
Thank you for this post, Faith. We have been praying for our nation for several weeks now. I was praying so hard as I watched the insurrection at the Capitol and I know others were too, and now we read that it could have been much, much worse, and that some of our leaders escaped violence by only seconds. I believe that in all of the violence, God was in the Capitol that day, protecting our Democracy and leaders from the mob. I believe that things can and will be better and that our best days are still ahead. Have a good week. :-)
Well written post Faith. Yes I think we all face difficult times ahead but prayers will help.
This was a great post. God calls us to pray for our leaders no matter how we personally feel about them. I'm sure the early church was not much inclined to pray for those in charge of them politically either and therefore Timothy had to encourage them. For one little verse there is so much to unpack in this scripture. I have to confess that I am more likely to complain than pray and your post has convicted me.
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