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May 18 - Praying for Those in Authority
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Paul, in his command to intercede in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 focuses our prayers especially on leaders. They have great responsibility and because of that face even greater attacks from the enemy. Satan has limited forces and focuses his attacks on those in leadership, whether it is among nations, or in the Church. If the Enemy can take down a leader, many other people are usually badly damaged. So Paul tells us, "pray…for all those in authority."
Are you praying for your pastor? Your church leaders? Your national leaders? This is a command from Scripture. It doesn’t command us to agree with them…but to pray for them. Those who move into leadership, whether in a nation or in a church, often face great criticism. This should not come from Christians. We are those who are committed to following Jesus, the great Intercessor. May every word we speak identify us as followers of Christ.
Lord, give me the desire to pray for those in authority. May I be faithful to intercede for my pastors, and for city and national leaders. Draw all men to Yourself for the glory of Your Name.
--Adapted from the article The Accuser Versus the Intercessor by Dave Butts, author of The Devil Goes to Church (Combating the Every Day Attacks of Satan). This book is available at prayershop.org.
Prayer Points
Praise God as your faithful Creator and Re-creator in Christ.
Give thanks that you can “participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet. 4:13).
Confess the times in which you have shirked responsibility by failing to speak or act for Christ.
Commit yourself to living up to the weighty name “Christian.”
Ask that you will never “repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (1 Pet. 3:9).
Pray for people who are experiencing the effects of natural disasters. Pray that they will feel the closeness of God even in the turmoil, and that relief will be offered to them in Jesus’ name.
Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org.