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Still Time To Pray
Our Louisiana elections are over and the reactions to the outcome are many and varied. Some are ecstatic that their candidate won, some are disappointed, some are confident, some are fearful, some are doubtful, some are expectant, and some are just waiting to see what happens next. But the one most important reaction that we as believers must have is to realize it is still time to pray. Many realized the importance of prayer going into the elections, but we must understand that whether our favorite candidate won or not, it is still time to pray.
God wants us to pray for all those in authority over us. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes to Timothy, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Tim. 2:1-2) We must realize that living quiet and peaceable lives in Godliness and honesty will not come through human reasoning and understanding. No amount of discussion or planning will bring about moral victory, because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12) The only way to spiritual and moral victory is through prayer.
In his book The Prayer Shield, C. Peter Wagner reveals, “The most underutilized source of spiritual power in our churches today is the intercession for Christian leaders.” It is that agreement in prayer with other believers that releases the power of heaven’s hosts against evil in our world, and enables our leaders to live and rule in righteousness.
All our leaders, but especially the newest ones, need our prayers because
they have greater visibility and responsibility than the average citizen
they are more subject to temptation
and they are more targeted by the enemy in spiritual warfare.
How do we pray? Rest in the presence of the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how to pray for your leaders. Here are seven requests God has put on our hearts:
Pray that God will put it on the hearts of our leaders to seek Him for wisdom in all that they set their hands to do.
Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will rest on our leaders as He did on Jesus when He walked the earth, so that they will be endowed with wisdom, understanding, good counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2)
Pray that God will give our leaders courage to remain true to the principles of the Word of God in their actions and their words.
Pray that our new leaders will surround themselves with people who are faithful and true to the Lord.
Pray that God will build a hedge around our leaders to protect their health, their resources, and their families from the destruction of the enemy.
Pray that our leaders will be able to loose themselves from the past and chart a new course of Godliness and honesty. (Phil 3:13)
Pray that our leaders will be sensitive to the needs of all those under their authority.
When God called Moses to a work of intercession, Moses asked, “Who am I?” We might ask the same thing, thinking that we have no great skills or feeling we have little importance compared to the leaders of our state. We would probably get a similar answer to the one Moses received. God is not nearly as concerned with our ability as He is with our availability. We ask, “Who am I?” God answers, “I AM!” It’s not about us! It’s about our being faithful to ask, so that His great power can be released and His “will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
“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 will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)
For more information on praying for your leaders, check the following websites:
www.frc.org (Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, President)
www.prayforleaders.org
www.presidentialprayerteam.org
www.nationaldayofprayer.org
By Dean St Cyr, Director of Upper Room Ministries
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