Praying in a Presidential Election Year

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim 2:2).

In the second chapter of 1 Timothy Paul gives a serious of instructions pertaining to public worship and gathering of the early church. These instructions follow the admonition of Paul to Timothy in 1:18, “This charge I entrust to you.” Notice that the first charge Paul calls Timothy to carryout is prayer. The context would suggest these were the issues Paul wanted Timothy to address in public prayer, although obviously they would apply to private prayer as well. Given the historical context of Paul’s letter to Timothy, while on his fourth missionary journey after being released from his first Roman imprisonment, Paul’s call for prayer for all people especially kings and those in authority shows his awareness that the attitude of civil authorities could be a blessing or a curse upon the church. So we can clearly see that we are to pray for civil leaders from Paul’s instruction to Timothy. How do we pray for our leaders today?

Our prayers must always be eternally focused, just like Paul’s. Our prayers must first and foremost center upon the saving work of Christ in our individual leaders souls. Nothing is more important than any person entering the Kingdom of God. Nothing is as transforming in the life of a person than a personal relationship with Christ and the regeneration they experience making them a “new creation.” Nothing will transform our civic leaders to do the right thing more than the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their heart, mind and soul. We should intercede on their behalf for a gracious work in their hearts.

Our supplications to God for our civic leaders should also include the surrounding them with aides that have wise discernment and gifted insights. Martin Luther said, “It is better to be ruled by a competent Muslim than an incompetent Christian.” Not only should we pray that God will give our civic leaders wisdom and insight, but that He would also surround them with equally talented staff.

One of the components of our prayers that is often overlooked is thanksgiving. We should thank God for our leaders. It is easy to make fun of our leaders and deride their decisions. Often they are faced with choices that are not easy and clear to make, especially the President. We should be thankful to God that He has placed them in the office they have. If you believe in the absolute sovereignty of God, that the Bible so clearly teaches, you know that no individual civic leader serves in any office without God having placed him or her there, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom 13:1). If their decisions appear to be contrary to what we think is right, we know that God will use them and their service for bringing about His glory and ultimate plan for humanity. This is cause for thanksgiving even if their actions are against us.

With a better understanding of Paul’s view of prayer for civic leaders let us commit to biblical model of praying for our leaders and the next President of the United States.