Praying for Leaders When God says we should be praying for leaders, does He mean the good ones? Or all leaders, good and bad? What will be the solution to our leadership crisis?
O
ur readers live in countries around the world, and governments are changing all the time. I admit I don’t know which country you live in, or all the strengths and weaknesses of all the leaders around the world. But still I strongly believe you should pray for the leaders of your nation. And the local leaders in your area. And the leaders of other nations as well. I don’t mean just the good leaders, but all leaders. Why?
Praying for government leaders
Here’s how the apostle Paul explained it: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for
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all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We should pray for all people! When we pray for government leaders, who often have some influence over how hard or easy our lives are, we can ask for God to cause the leaders to allow us to live a peaceful life. So many live under unfair, oppressive and corrupt governments. Their wish is for the government to just leave them alone. You can see this sentiment in a scene from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. The rabbi was asked if there was a blessing for the czar. He replied, “May God bless and keep the czar . . . far away from us.” Many living under oppressive regimes can relate,
January/February 2021
