In my last couple of posts I mentioned those who were “Drunk with Power”. The posts are, I believe, prophetic words of warning to this nation and those in charge.
I also mentioned our need to pray. This post is the “how to”, even when we don’t want to.
Yes, there’s something you and I can do, MUST DO, for our nation to have even a prayer of surviving the coming shaking.
It’s also something every person in every nation should do for their country.
Pray for their leaders.
“But what should we pray?”, you may ask.
In God’s word there are plenty of scriptures pertaining to leaders; kings, etc. God inspired people to write these particular words down so we could know his plans and purposes for governments and their leaders.
God tells us to be subject to governing authorities, and to pray for the leaders so they will be subject to their higher authority, i.e. God.
Please read the following scriptures…
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:1-7 ESV)
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” (1 Peter 2:13-18 ESV)
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:1-3 ESV)
“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. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV)
The following verses are from the Psalms and Proverbs. They speak of kings and rulers, and their relationship to God and their people. Using the scriptures, I will highlight some points to use in praying for our leaders.
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:1-12 ESV)
Pray – for the united council between kings and rulers. That their council will be united with God and his kingdom plans. If not, for their council to be confused and aborted, and in the end, defeated.
Pray – for the rulers to hunger for righteousness and godliness. That they would desire to see their land blessed by the presence of God.
Pray – that the leaders will approve of God’s description of right and wrong.
Pray – leaders will support what and who God supports; which includes Israel.
“Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.” (Psalm 102:15 ESV)
“All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:4-6 ESV)
Pray – for the fear of God to prevail over the nations, and the nations leaders.
Pray – that each government will be established in humility and brokenness before God.
“Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 149:5-9 ESV)
Pray – for kings and rulers who are ruling in an ungodly manner, that their actions will be bound and rendered ineffective. For them to either repent or be removed. For it is God who places them into positions of power, or removes them.
“By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.” (Proverbs 8:15-16 ESV)
Pray – that they be filled with God’s wisdom, God’s insight and revelation. For them to rule righteously.
“Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.” (Proverbs 14:33-35 ESV)
Pray – for rulers to call right – right, and wrong – wrong.
“It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right. A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.” (Proverbs 16:12-15 ESV)
Pray – that the fear of the Lord will be the force which drives the terror of the king.
“The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.” (Proverbs 20:2 ESV)
“A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.” (Proverbs 20:8 ESV)
“Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.” (Proverbs 20:28 ESV)
Pray – for the office, the throne, of the king or president, to be preserved with steadfast love and faithfulness.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1 ESV)
“He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.” (Proverbs 22:11 ESV)
Pray – that leaders throughout the nations will live purity of heart. For them to recognize people with pure hearts, and that they would promote those people to positions of authority and influence.
“My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both.” (Proverbs 24:21-22 ESV)
Pray – that the heart of the king and the heart of God beat as one.
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” (Proverbs 25:2-5 ESV)
Pray – for each leader to greatly desire truth. That they would search for truth, and surround themselves with people so like minded.
“By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.” (Proverbs 29:4 ESV)
“If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.” (Proverbs 29:14 ESV)
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.” (Proverbs 31:4-5 ESV)
Pray – that kings, rulers, and presidents will not be drunk with power, or anything that causes them to fail in judging and governing according to God’s precepts and statutes.
What you and I accomplish through faith and prayer can only be measured by the one who calls and empowers us to pray. As we speak God’s word over our leaders, the Holy Spirit energizes our prayers and enables us to believe for the exceedingly, abundant answers only he is capable of.
Let’s believe God together.
Jan Grace 