Prayer For Political Leaders

As Christians, the Bible does instruct us to pray for our political leaders (1 Timothy 2: 1-4; 1 Peter 2: 13-17; Romans 13: 1-7). Many are in agreement with this, but the problem arises when we are asked to pray for a leader whose politcal views we do not agree with, whether Democrat or Republican. This is where many Christians get conflicted.

Before I continue however, let me first say, that my blog is not about promoting any one political party over the other. My blog is not even about criticizing any political leader or the other. The main focus of my blog has always been, and will always be, about applying the prophetic word of God as it relates to real life issues, and also health and wellness promotion, and restoration of the whole man in body, soul, and spirit.

As was said before, Christians sometimes get conflicted when asked to pray for political leaders, especially if they do not agree with the policies of a political leader, whether Democrat or Republican. The Bible however, does not stipulate that our prayers should be only for the politicans that we like. We must remember that when Paul and Peter penned those words in Romans 13 (Paul), 1 Timothy 2 (Paul), and 1 Peter 2 (Peter), that they were living under the control of the Roman empire. For any of us history buffs, we should remember that the Jewish people, during the time of Paul and Peter, were living under the oppressive regime of Rome, and the Jews longed to be free from this regime. It was Rome that persecuted both Jews and Christians, and also destroyed the Jewish temple. Yet, it is with great surprise that we find God instructing His people to pray for that government!

According to the Bible, we pray for our political leaders and government so that they can:

1. Keep law and order in the land, and punish criminals, and pursue justice (Romans 13: 1-7).
2. So that we as Christians can be free to live a godly and peaceful life (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
3. So that they too might have opportunity to know Truth (vs. 3-5).
4. Because it is the will of God! (1 Peter 2:15).

Being a good, moral, law-abiding citizen of a country is one of the greatest testament of the power of the living God, to any government. According to Peter, our moral lifestyles will "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1 Peter 2:15). He also instructs us to "honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" (vs. 17).

For those of us who may be Republican, living under a Democratic government, this may be hard to do, for those of us who are Democrat, living under a Democratic government, this may be easy to do, and vice versa. As for myself, I pray for all leaders whether Republican or Democrat. That is what God instructs me to do, and so I do. If we as people of God do not pray, then how can we expect anything good to happen? God is calling on us, yes us, His people to pray for the peace of our land, whether we be Democrats or Republicans.

"And seek ye the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace (Jeremiah 29: 7).

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).