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Words from the
Honeycomb - Blog

Praying for Politicians

10/10/2020

16 Comments

 
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Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash
I believe one of the greatest ways we can make a positive change in our country is to pray for our politicians. Not groan about what they said at the debates. Not complain that we don’t like what they did in the past. Not gripe about how we don’t understand how they could make a certain decision. Pray. Because prayer changes things while venting frustration just builds more hate.

If we want to have peace in the land where we live, the Bible clearly instructs us to pray for our leaders. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (NKJV). This passage breaks down the types of prayers for our leaders into four powerful categories.

  1. Supplications: When we pray for our leaders, we start with praying for ourselves. We can pray to have the right attitudes towards our leaders. We can also pray that we take our proper role in society by voting and being good law-abiding citizens.
  2. Prayers: I see this as praying for our leaders personally. We can pray for supernatural wisdom and guidance for our leaders. They are just people, but God is Sovereign over all. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (NASB). The king is not a puppet on marionette strings, but God remains in control. Think of Biblical examples like King Cyrus who the Lord stirred his spirit to send the Israelites back to Jerusalem after they had been in exile for 70 years as Jeremiah had prophesized (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). Cyrus was a pagan king, yet the Lord changed his heart to favor God’s children. The earthly king must bow to the heavenly king, so when we have concern about what happens here below, we call on a higher power through prayer.
  3. Intercessions: We also are blessed to intercede for those around us. The verse says we are not only to pray for the President, but for all those in authority. We should pray for all our politicians to lead our country well, including sheriffs, school board members, legislators, and governors. Each level of government makes different decisions that impact our daily lives. When we intercede for the people of our town, states, and country, everyone is blessed as God moves on behalf of the prayers of His people.
  4. Thanksgiving: The more Scripture I read, the more power I realize is connected to giving thanks. Here in the United States, we have a Constitutional right to the freedom of religion. While prayer has formally been removed from public schools, no one can take our right to pray silently. We also have the freedom of assembly to meet for church with other believers. These are privileges many of the persecuted church do not enjoy. We must thank God for all the ways He has blessed us here in America.

Recently, I joined a group of a few ladies where we meet together once a week in person to pray by name for the leaders of our country at the local, state, and national level. We are careful to social distance, but praying together in person is so powerful. We have several sheets of names where we pray for the leaders to be filled with God’s wisdom and that their advisors would point them to decisions that align with the truths in God’s Word.

Maybe the idea of praying for politicians is a new concept. Some people may wonder why we would pray for people who seem set in their ways. We return to the truth that God is in control and hears the prayers of His people. If you want to start now, you can pray with me:

Dear God, I pray for the politicians in the United States. Help me to be a good citizen and to seek your wisdom for how to vote and contribute to my community. I pray for Christian candidates to not be ashamed of the gospel, but shine forth truth. I pray for their spiritual protection, because Satan wants to attack our country. Please give our leaders discernment to make wise decisions in very difficult circumstances. God, send revival that flows from the peace of your people praying together for all the leaders of our country. Thank You God for controlling the world, even when it seems to not make sense. Thank you for the freedoms we enjoy in America to worship you in spirit and in truth. Please grant us grace and mercy as a nation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

  • Do you know the names of your local politicians?
  • Have you thought of praying for them before?
  • Do you know a few friends whom you could gather with either by phone or in person to pray for your politicians? Our country needs all the prayer it can get.  
16 Comments
Katherine Pasour link
10/11/2020 10:35:26 pm

Oh, yes! I agree wholeheartedly that we should pray for our leaders. Your prayer is especially timely in asking God to grant us wisdom and discernment in knowing for whom to vote. Thank you!

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:47:20 am

Our votes for every level of government always matter, but I feel like this election even more so than others. That is why I am seeking divine wisdom on how to vote.

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Barbara L. Latta link
10/12/2020 12:27:00 am

Such a timely post and needed so desperately. Thank you for sharing because sometimes though we have good intentions we forget to do what we know is right.

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:48:21 am

In the current political situation, we can easily get caught up in a lot of rhetoric and forget that seeking God and His kingdom and desires are what matter the most.

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J.D. Wininger link
10/12/2020 08:23:19 am

Amen gentle friend. My entry in my daily Prayer List reads, "Our nation needs to return to its founding principles. Pray for our leaders (at all levels), our military, our judges, our schools, and our churches. Pray most of all for the people of this nation; that we return to godliness and righteousness." Well said author! God's blessings ma'am.

Reply
Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:49:04 am

Praise the Lord that He has already had you regularly praying for our nation's leaders. May more and more people do the same so that our country can align to God.

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Jeanne Doyon link
10/12/2020 03:38:56 pm

So needed right now!!!

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:49:40 am

Now is definitely the time when our prayers are crucial for God to work what He needs done.

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Sylvia A Schroeder link
10/14/2020 12:10:06 pm

I am so convicted of this need. Thanks for addressing it and the encouragement to actually do it!

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:50:26 am

Sylvia, I will pray for the Holy Spirit to lay it heavy on your heart to remain in prayer for our country in this season and going forward.

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Shawnee Penkacik link
10/15/2020 09:11:31 pm

This is such a timely post. Praying for our leaders is so important. When we pray for those in office and for our nation, God does great things.

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:51:30 am

We pray for our politicians because God does what we can't. He can change their hearts and turn them towards truth. No doors are closed to the Spirit of the Lord to enact truth for His Kingdom.

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Barb Fox link
10/15/2020 11:35:02 pm

Oh, thank you so much! A ladies group I'm in read this passage this week and it's so refreshing to be reminded of God's sovereignty vs. man's foolishness. We can be encouraged because we can take action (praying) that WILL have positive effects on society.

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Joanna Eccles
10/16/2020 10:52:12 am

We are not helpless in all the chaos we see around us. When we pray, all the host of heaven war to bring God's kingdom to earth.

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Debbie Wilson link
10/18/2020 09:43:36 pm

Joanna, I'm reading God's Smuggler. He said that if someone complained about the communist system more than they talked about the goodness of God, he sensed they weren't ready for ministry. If that is true about communist countries, how much more true is that for us. Wonderful post—pray instead of complain.

Reply
Joanna Eccles
10/18/2020 10:47:30 pm

I love the book God's Smuggler. So true. I think one of the tricks the enemy tries to suck us into is complaining when prayer is so much more powerful. I pray more people start to pray.

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    Author

    Joanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over ten years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program.  She is passionate about discipleship and helping people know God better. Joanna enjoys coffee, traveling, and reading, and currently lives in Virginia.

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