Pray Faithfully
Theme of the Week: How to Pray for Those in Power
Thursday, November 13, 2008
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will believe the truth. Then they will … escape from the Devil's trap (2 Timothy 2:25-26). Bonus Reading: 1 Samuel 12:14-15, 22-25
Our prayers shouldn't be reserved for elections, national crises, or political leaders we either love or detest.
Does it go against the grain to pray for those who are unjust or who disagree with our convictions? It helps to remember that the biblical commands to pray for those in authority were written by and to Christians living under Roman emperors such as Nero, who persecuted, displaced, and executed many believers.
I find I need a system to stay faithful in prayer. I try to pray for my national leaders daily—starting with the president, then members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, governors, and so on. In addition, I match a continent (or subcontinent) with each day of the week. On Mondays, I pray for leaders in Europe. On Tuesdays, for those in Canada, South America, and the Caribbean. Wednesday's prayers focus on North Africa and the Muslim world. On Thursdays I pray for the rest of Africa. Fridays take me to Central and South Asia and Australia, and Saturdays find me in East Asia. On Sundays I pray for global leaders who influence many nations in regional groupings, the United Nations, or the Vatican.
—Paul Borthwick in Discipleship Journal
My Response: A leader I disagree with is ____. How might God be challenging me to pray for this person?
Thought to Apply: History belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being. —Walter Wink
Adapted from Discipleship Journal (11-12/05) by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Give me confidence, patience, and tenacity, Lord, in praying for your purposes to be accomplished through our leaders.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
