Turn on the news and you will almost immediately hear about our government.
Decisions being made, policies being changed, leaders being fired, accusations against leaders, etc. And believers can be tempted to fear for our nation or grumble about our leaders. But I often wonder, do we pray for our leaders as much as we grumble about them? Do we pray for our nation as much as we fear for it? Here are some ways to pray for our nation.
Jesus gave us a number of instructions on how to pray. First he said:
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. (MT 6.9-10)
There are various interpretations of what the kingdom is, but one thing I am sure of is that God’s kingdom is where God rules.
When I pray for God’s kingdom to come I pray for his rule to come, for salvation to come, for people to be saved. The Bible also makes it clear that God’s will is to save people (1 Ti 2:4).
So the first thing we can pray for our nation is that he would bring his rule and let his will be done and save multitudes. Pray that God will bring his kingdom rule into the lives of our leaders and save them. I regularly pray that God will save our President and his family, and that he will save every Senator, Representative and Supreme Court Justice and that he will save thousands of government workers.
And God tells us that we should pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not, that they would lead in such a way that we might enjoy peace:
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, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 TI 2.1-4
Why does God tell us to pray for our leaders, especially that we might have peace? Because God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
It is far easier to spread the gospel in a climate of peace than when there is war and persecution. I have read that throughout history, revivals have often ended when wars broke out. So pray for our leaders, that they will promote peace so the gospel might spread and multitudes be saved.
Pray that God will direct the hearts of our leaders.
The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. PR 21.1 (NASB).
You may completely disagree with our leaders. They may be wicked people who do not seek the Lord. Yet God can direct their hearts as easily as a channel of water. He can turn their hearts any way he wishes.
So pray that God will move our leader’s hearts to promote righteousness and life and peace. Pray that he moves our leaders to put an end to abortion. Pray that God will give our leaders wisdom in every area.
And as Paul told Timothy, we should offer up thanksgiving regularly – for our government, for the peace he has given our nation, for his mercy and protection of us. We are so blessed to live in this nation and God has been so merciful and kind to us.
So pray for our leaders and nation regularly. Pray that God will bring his kingdom and save multitudes. Pray for God to move the hearts of our leaders so we can enjoy peace and the gospel can spread. And thank God for his kindness to us. You can pray something like this:
Father, I pray that your kingdom would come and your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray that your Name and the name of Jesus would be honored in every place. That you would fill the earth with the knowledge of your glory. That praise would ascend to your name in every place. That the gospel would go forth in power to every nation and people. Please save multitudes from every tribe and tongue.
Please save multitudes in the United States. Please work in Donald Trump and his family. Please save every one of our Senators, Representatives, Supreme Court Judges. Please place godly men and women in office. Please turn the hearts of our leaders to seek you and fear you and promote righteousness and life. Please give our leaders wisdom. Please have mercy on our nation, and rescue millions. Please protect our nation and continue to grant us peace and religious freedom. Please bring an end to abortion. Please change the hearts of multitudes regarding abortion.
