Praying Systematically for Leaders and Issues of Our Time
Election Day is indeed behind us. Those who participated in the democratic process voted by mail or in person. Recounting in some races is well underway. It may take weeks or months before we know outcomes. In the meantime, complaining, criticizing, dissing candidates and issues remain ongoing. In fact, criticism has never been more in vogue or more prolific than it is in today’s culture. That’s why it’s now more important than ever for Christians to be praying systematically for leaders and issues of our time.
Whether expressed on social media or on Yelp, forums replete with discrediting individuals or groups are plentiful and popular. Meanwhile, agitated parties on opposing sides are also slinging mud at their opponents. Political civility is an antiquated practice of the past, and has gone the way of telephone party lines and telegrams. As a result, a not so funny thing happened on the road of complaint. One proverbial parrot started a diatribe and all those behind him follow suit. Soon, a cacophony of complaints drowns out the civil discussion. Environments where people once agreed to disagree have become critically toxic. People cancel one another and even sever relationships. Governments and individuals build literal and figurative walls. Where will it end?
Change Begins With Ourselves
There’s no telling how bad the political climate will deteriorate when it comes to the intolerance of differing opinions. As is the case with any social problem, the best place for us to begin facilitating solution is to begin with ourselves.
Whether your candidates, issues or propositions prevailed, a posture of prayer is a great place to start. In fact, I deliberately delayed this blog about government to upload after Election Day because this is work we are all commanded by God to undertake. Whether we are armchair complainers who don’t vote or individuals who work the polling place, if we are Christians we are indeed called to pray. God cares far less about whether or not or for whom you voted for than He does about your persistence and frequency in prayer. Whether it’s about your hot button issues or you leaders, we are called to take a knee. Over and over again.
Called to Pray
In fat, the Bible is peppered with prompts to pray for our leaders. In Daniel’s prayer to God about the leaders of Babylon, he praises God for setting “up kings and deposing them.” Totalitarian regimes may be deluded into thinking they’ve taken power. And democracies might be under the impression that elections determined the winner. That’s all true to some degree. But God is the one who is ultimately in charge. He permits the rule of those in power. Even in this broken world, where, occasionally, corrupt men rule, God uses them all for His plans and purposes too. Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to pray “for kings in high positions.” But sadly we default to complaint more than we do to prayer.
There are times when we may even utterly loathe those who are in power. And if you are a person who truly believes the current government is your enemy, you can opt for the game plan Jesus lays out in Matthew 5:43-45. He says “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” You can love those who don’t like or agree with in Christ’s strength. It isn’t easy but it is possible. And praying for them enables us to put actions behind words.
What Prayer Can Change
Prayer can do far more of course than simply change our political climate. It can also change the heart of a person apathetic to politics and the world around them. It’s easy to be complacent and think that one vote or even a robust pattern of systematic prayer can change anything. On election day, I confess a lazy part of me felt tempted to stay home on that rainy day, but I grabbed my umbrella and headed out anyway.
The word of God tells us to dig our heels in and commit to prayer for all concerns large and small. James reminds us in chapter five verse sixteen of this book that “the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective.” It’s important to remember this when we feel overwhelmed with weighty global issues or even something as limited in scope as regional or municipal matters. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. Not just some of our anxieties but ALL of them.
Who Prayer Can Change
When we undertake that kind of all-encompassing posture of prayer, it can change our individual hearts, too. We will lean into trusting God more and fretting about the world less. Jesus reminded us in Matthew 6 not to worry about tomorrow for it will have enough worries of its own. He goes on to say in this same message called the Sermon on the Mount that we are to go into a room and shut the door and pray in secret.
It’s a markedly different posture than pontificating on social media platforms and lambasting those who don’t agree with us on You Tube, isn’t it?
We are told in scripture that obedience to God and deference to authority can even foster modification in our overall political landscape. God, through His word, promises miraculous, impactful change when we faithfully pray for our leaders. Our Lord spoke of this promise through the prophets in 2 Chronicles 7:14. There we read “If my people who are called by my name 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 heal their land.”
Imagine the power of such a prayer when petitioned with a righteous band of brothers with true and contrite heart. Then imagine it lifted up by hundreds of thousands of caring Christian people who want the Lord to rule and reign on earth as He does in heaven. Now there’s a powerful word picture!
Join me in praying sincerely, consistently and with our whole heart for our government. Whether we agree or disagree with their public policy, as our Almighty Omniscient God has commanded, we honor God and sacrifice our time and sometimes our feelings to make our hearts and our world better places for God to rule and reign.
