Praying for Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-6 - I urge, then, first of all, 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, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.

Paul amazes me ….how he always has the bigger picture in mind….he has been mistreated so much by the government…thrown in prison some commentaries say 5-6 years of total time…and yet he still urges us to pray for everyone….and lists specifically the kings and authorizes that run the varied governments of the world.  He tells us to pray for peace….to ask God for peaceful and quiet lives…to strive to be godly and holy in all that we do. 

Paul is taking the second commandment to the next level here. He must have remembered Jesus’ own words from Matthew 22: 36-40 , “ Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." ….Or maybe he heard about this beautiful speech about love Jesus gave in Matthew 5:43-48 . "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect?” 

I sure hate to admit it….but the last time I even thought about praying for our government and leaders was in a prayer service a few weeks ago.  I sure don’t think about lifting up Obama…or the senators that vote in congress…or the governors….or the mayors….on a regular basis.  I guess I have clear directions from Paul to change that…I need to lift up every leader….maybe even learn some new names…so I can lift them up and ask God to fill them with his love and wisdom…to consider what he wants them to do the next time they have to make a big decision. Think about it…if all of us…would lift them up every day…really cry out to God to capture their attention…to invade their heart….we really could see true peace…the kind of peace that Paul is talking about…the peace that passes understanding…and changes lives.

God really does want all men to be saved…to be a part of his kingdom…to come to a knowledge of truth.  He wants us to love even those that mistreat us and make wrong decisions that cause us pain and hurt.  God wants us all to love one another….even as he has loved us…he told us so in John 13:34-35,  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." …and that includes praying for those that are in leadership roles…even the ones we did not vote for.  It is one thing to gripe and complain about a leader...it is another to ask God to change his heart.

Father…thank you once again this morning for the reminder that my prayers lack petitions for the leaders of our world.  Help me father to love them …to stop griping and complaining about all they have done to hurt our nation….to keep our world at turmoil…but petition you to change their hearts….to begin to bring a true peace to all people.  Lord…I pray this morning for all the leaders of the world…those I can call out by name like Obama…and those I don’t know.  Give them wisdom…courage and strength.  Invade their hearts in a new way today…make your presence known in their lives and give them a sense of what your will is for our world and the nations they are in charge of leading.  Help me to remember to lift them up each day…and help others to join in really praying for peace…the kind of peace that will bring all soldiers back to their families…the kind of peace that will rein in all our hearts and make us all love each other…no matter what. Amen.