4 prayers for our government leaders

Note: Images taken prior to the CDC’s recommendation to wear masks in public.

Virtually every aspect of our daily lives is affected in some way by the officials we elect to govern our cities, states, and nation. These leaders carry a lot of responsibility and they need strength and wisdom every day. But do we spend time praying for them? Really praying? We should, especially when times are tough.

Here are 4 prayers to help strengthen our government leaders:

A prayer for our president

Father, our president carries an enormous burden. The decisions made by the President of the United States affect the lives of people not just in our nation, but all over the world, and he especially needs your touch to lead. Strengthen him, Lord. Give him wisdom and grace. Let him speak and act with honesty and integrity in all situations. Give him a glimpse of how much you love him and how much you love the world you created. Draw him to yourself, Jesus, into an ever-closer relationship with you. Anoint him with your Holy Spirit. Speak to him in the quiet moments as well as amid the chaos. Soften his heart and make him a true servant leader.

Bring strong, wise, and spiritually mature people to surround him. Speak truth to him through the voices of those he trusts. Give him wisdom to reject the voices of those who would urge him to seek only personal power and glory. Let him know, deep in his soul, that only with and through YOU is the victory won. Only through your power is our country and our world made whole.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for our members of Congress

Lord, we pray for our members of Congress, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Reveal yourself to them and bring them closer to you, each in their own unique way, that they may hear your voice clearly and distinctly. Speak to them of truth, integrity, justice, and fairness. Return them, we pray, to the good and lofty aspirations they had when they ran for office in the first place — to help others, to right wrongs, and to make the world a more beautiful place. Give each one of them strength to reach out to those across the aisle and work together. We boldly pray that you would bind their hearts together in ways they would not have imagined; let them declare, as King David did, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 NIV). (Jesus, we believe what you said, “what is impossible with man, is possible with God” [Luke 18:27 NIV].)

Let them see the good works done by people of faith across their states and their districts. Let their eyes be opened to what you are doing through your Church and the precious believers across the country. Give them a desire to promote things that honor you, not just their own political careers. Cut through the clutter of politics-as-usual and self-promotion. Let them hear your voice speak to them of honor, sacrifice and purity.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer for our state leaders

Heavenly Father, just as you gave wisdom to Moses to appoint elders among the Israelites, you blessed our founders with the wisdom to divide our country into individual states. You have empowered our governors and state legislatures to make laws and decrees which manage our daily lives, make our lives safe, and protect us from federal government overreach. We pray for our governors and our state legislatures. Please give strength and wisdom to them and guide their decisions and may they always put love first. Surround them with people from all walks of life and many backgrounds. Bring to them people of high moral character and spiritual maturity. Among the many voices which cry out to them every day, may they hear your voice above all others. As we look to our governors for assurance and guidance, especially at times of crisis, inspire them and speak through them by the power of your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A prayer for our local leaders

Jesus, you were born in a little town. You grew up under the authority of local leaders and officials who managed the majority of your daily life. We lift up our local leaders today. We pray for our mayors, city councils, county commissioners, police chiefs, judges, and all who serve our local communities. Strengthen them with wisdom and grace for the heavy burdens they carry. May they manage their teams and projects with love. Keep their hearts pure and their eyes turned toward your face as they work in the best interests of the people they are called to serve.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We are grateful to live in a country where we can openly pray for our leaders. One of Paul’s very first instructions to his protégé, Timothy was to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2 NIV). Paul’s message is as relevant now as it was when the Church was first formed: Your prayers can move mountains!

ACT NOW:

Send your prayers to our government leaders!

Top photo: World Vision Volunteer Advocates pray in Washington, D.C. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Laura Reinhardt)