There are several scriptures describing how God sets the authorities in place. These verses instruct us to pray for our leaders and those in power in other countries as well.
We are called to intercede. Not because we like them, but because we’re asking God to move through them despite their weaknesses— just like we’re asking God to move through us despite our weaknesses.
You’ve seen this already. Haters gonna hate. It doesn’t matter who is in office.
Regardless of the victorious person or party, there is always a camp that doesn’t like the elected official and finds him/her offensive, divisive, and not the right person.
Here is a thought I gave to a friend who greatly dislikes our sitting president.
Historically speaking, people are remembered for what they did or didn’t do, instead of who they are specifically as people.
JFK was quite a scoundrel. He was boldly immoral, a proud, silver-spoon elitist. Yet people talk about what he accomplished while in office more than any personal failings.
In contrast, Jimmy Carter was an amazing man in every way. He loved Jesus, was a humble, beautiful soul, and faithful to the end. However, he is remembered as a lackluster president and his inactions damaged the country at that time.
So while we are celebrating our freedoms from tyranny, please pray for all leaders in power at this time. Pray that God would show his mercy to the nations. Also, pray for His wisdom to be released and for humans to receive His wisdom.
God is always telling a story bigger than what we can see. Remember the confusion among the disciples, each one having a plan for Jesus and their remedy for Roman tyranny. But Jesus only had one purpose in mind—the plan of His Father.
Then and now, a much bigger story is unfolding.
At the very end of this whole earth experiment, there are a couple of questions we will have to answer:
Have we learned how to love the way Jesus loves us?
Have we given our all in loving God?
Loving ourselves?
Loving others?
Loving our enemies?
There’s a line from an Amanda Cook song that moves me every time. “Your love is a fury all its own.”
This kind of power changes our world. Let’s release this kind of love in our prayers.
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.
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all people to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1–4