Our leaders need prayer. Whether we agree with them or not, all leaders are in need of prayer, and the Bible commands us to pray for them: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Sometimes, however, it’s difficult to know what to pray for. We don’t often know the details of our leaders’ lives like we know the details of our friends’ and family members’ lives. Below is a list of five different things that you can be praying for our leaders to have. They are things that all leaders — and really all people — should strive after and pray for.
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1. Wisdom
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The Bible tells us that “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” so first and foremost we should be praying for our leaders to know the God who created them and put them in a place of authority.
Leaders are faced with so many decisions every day, many of which will have a significant impact on countless people. We should be praying that they would be wise in how they make decisions and handle crises. Pray for them to seek Godly counsel and not to act impulsively or selfishly, but to be like King Solomon and seek out deeper wisdom from God instead of relying on what appears to be sound advice in our limited perspectives.
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2. Surrender
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Surrender may seem like the opposite of the authority that comes with leadership, but good leaders know that being able to surrender one’s own desires and preferences is essential to leading well.
Activist and political leader Nelson Mandela has said, “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.”
Pray that our leaders would surrender to the Lord and to others so that they can lead unselfishly.
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3. Strength
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Our leaders are always in the spotlight, and even for someone with a naturally dominant, strong personality, always being at the center of attention is exhausting. Pray that our leaders would have the strength they need to accomplish the often daunting tasks God has given them. Pray that they would have the endurance to keep working for solutions, even when faced with sleepless nights and difficult meetings.
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4. Courage
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Even if you have the wisdom to know what is right, you need the courage to follow through and actually do the right thing. Pray that our leaders would be brave in the face of opposition and would listen to God rather than all the naysayers.
Pray that they would take Joshua 1:9 to heart: “This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
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5. Integrity
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Power comes with many temptations, not least of which is the temptation to be dishonest. Politicians are particularly known for this. Pray that our leaders would be men and women of integrity. Integrity involves being honest and telling the truth, but it is even deeper than that. A person of integrity holds firmly to their morals and seeks to live ethically and do what is good and upright.
Psalm 15:2 says the person who can be near God is “He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.”
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Publication date: August 29, 2017
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