Praying for our leaders

I have several Christian friends that are left of center. Whenever I speak against the actions of our current President, they love to trot out Romans 13:1-7. You know, the verses talking about how God ordained government and has placed every ruler over us. That we should render the taxes, respect and honor due unto them. I do not dispute, disagree or minimize these verses. I will, however, point out the hypocrisy of the same people who protect this POTUS but spent the previous 8 years lambasting the last one…

So then, how do we subject ourselves to an administration that is forcing acceptance of homosexuality in all aspects of life, as well as forcing individuals, organizations and business owners to pay for abortions in violation of their own Scripturally based beliefs?

We have other Scriptural guidance on the issue. Both Titus 3 and 1 Timothy 2 tell us to pray for our leaders. Fortunately, those passages not only tell us TO pray for our leaders, they tell us WHY to pray for them. Paul tells Timothy to pray for them that they might be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth! He also tells Titus that reason, but also adds that we should remember that WE were once lost, disobedient fools ourselves.

Daniel is the quintessential example of a man of God living in an ungodly land. He gave respect and honor to his king, and in Daniel 6:21 even blesses the king with the greeting “O king, live forever!” This was after the king had thrown Daniel in the lion’s den for praying to anything other than the king.

Again, how do we pray for an ungodly leader? I believe that the answer to that question lies in the words of a king. David writes in Psalm 141:5 that he prays against the DEEDS of the wicked.

I submit that we are charged, required and expected to pray for our leaders, legislators and judges. We are to pray that they will gain knowledge of the Truth. My personal phrase that I tend to use is that they “not be able to take a step without tripping over godly counsel”. But we are also to pray against their deeds of evil, against the powers of this world oppressing the people of God.