ANOTHER TIMELY PRAYER
Proverbs 29:2 NKJV
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
So here is another short devotional, but it includes another timely prayer. With the upcoming election, we need to pray for our nation, our state, and our local area. And our prayer is simple. We need righteous people in office. We need righteous people in authority.
Beyond political party lines, we need people who have a sense of right about them. I don’t remember too many candidates that I have agreed with across the board, but we are not electing pastors and spiritual leaders. We are electing men and women who will operate in natural authority. And if these men and women are upstanding people, we are going to rejoice. We may not agree with every policy and decision, but right people will do right things.
And heaven deliver us from more wicked politicians in government. When the wicked are in authority, the people groan. The King James translation says the people mourn. The word wicked means guilty or wrong. This implies a heart condition as opposed to what we believe about their platforms. I am a believer in voting for the platform that most lines up with my biblical beliefs. Notice, I said most lines up. I don’t believe we will see a perfect policy platform until we reach heaven and the millennial reign of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. Of course, when we are at that place, there will be no elections or political parties. There will be no democracy, for there will be one king and one kingdom, and it will be a righteous Kingdom with a complete absence of wicked. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
But until that day, we are to pray for all those in authority as per the Scriptures instructions in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. The Scripture says supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all men and for kings and all who are in authority. That is covering some ground prayer-wise. And Paul indicated this is top priority, which makes sense if we are praying for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done. The purpose is to see God’s will fulfilled in the earth and so that we live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. This is something we should be doing on a continual basis, election year or not.
So, let’s pray. I would rather rejoice than groan.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I pray Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray for all in authority and ask that righteous men and women be placed in office and surround those who are elected. We need Your hand and mercy in our nation, state, and local governments.