Praying for Political Leaders: Who Is Worthy?
Updated: 2 days ago
I often strain against the bit. Some of the things Jesus commanded are not easy to hear and even less so acting on them. One of the things I struggle with is prayer.
Praying for Political Leaders Is Not Easy
It’s easy to pray for something we want, or someone we love. It’s not so easy to pray for someone we dislike, or with whom we disagree. I find it especially challenging to pray for political leaders. Yes, I want to pray Psalm 109 over them.
Send the Evil One to accuse my accusing judge; dispatch Satan to prosecute him. When he’s judged, let the verdict be "Guilty," and when he prays, let his prayer turn to sin. Give him a short life, and give his job to somebody else. Make orphans of his children, dress his wife in widow’s black; Turn his children into begging street urchins, evicted from their homes—homeless. May the bank foreclose and wipe him out, and strangers, like vultures, pick him clean. May there be no one around to help him out, no one willing to give his orphans a break. Chop down his family tree so that nobody even remembers his name. But erect a memorial to the sin of his father, and make sure his mother’s name is there, too— Their sins recorded forever before God, but they themselves sunk in oblivion. That’s all he deserves since he was never once kind, hounded the afflicted and heartbroken to their graves. Since he loved cursing so much, let curses rain down; Since he had no taste for blessing, let blessings flee far from him. He dressed up in curses like a fine suit of clothes; he drank curses, took his baths in curses. So give him a gift—a costume of curses; he can wear curses every day of the week! That’s what they’ll get, those out to get me— an avalanche of just deserts from God (Psalms 109:6-20).
What Scripture Actually Asks of Us
But this isn’t what the Bible says. We are not to judge who is worthy of prayer or grace. The Holy Spirit didn’t die and appoint us in His place. God remains the judge. None of us are worthy, except by grace and the blood of Jesus. We are called to pray for everyone, not only the people we agree with or love.
We can pray for wisdom for them and the fear of God in their hearts. This is fairly easy, even if I resent praying for them at all. Blessing them is another matter entirely. Will I pray the same prayer of blessing over them as I would for myself? Not likely, but this is what I should do. Jesus told us to bless those who abuse and spitefully use us. We are to do more than pray. We are to bless them.
I can’t wait for my emotions to agree with my will. It’s the same with forgiveness. If I wait until I feel like forgiving, I will hardly forgive anyone. No, I make the choice, and I speak out forgiveness, and every time I feel the hurt, I pray for blessing over them. It hurts my feelings, but it helps me grow in my relationship with and trust in God. I commit them into His hands and believe that He will do what is best in accordance with His plans, purposes, and the glory of His Name.
Bitterness hurts me more than it does my enemy. Praying for them and blessing them doesn’t mean that I don’t set personal boundaries. No, I don’t see myself sitting down to an enjoyable meal or a pleasant conversation with them. I don’t want to spend time with them. I don’t even want to think about them, but when I do, I pray that God will bless them and accomplish His plans and purposes for them. Their lives and destinies are none of my business. My business is doing what God said.
Are there people you find especially difficult to pray for, or does the idea never cross your mind? How do you overcome your resentment of some people and their behavior?
Praying Through a Corruption Inquiry
We currently have a commission of inquiry that is unearthing shocking revelations of politicians and high-ranking officials involved in criminal and corrupt activities. How do I pray for these individuals? Should I pray that they be exposed and brought to justice, or should I pray for forgiveness, restoration, and a change of heart?
They have enriched themselves at the cost of the masses who are jobless, hopeless, and, in many cases, homeless. We have the highest unemployment rate in the world, while these gangsters have exploited avenues to enrich themselves, mostly due to fraud and criminal activities. More and more culprits are being exposed, and some are currently appearing in court. However, even if they are sentenced, it will not give back the years ordinary citizens have suffered because of their criminal activities.
How do I pray for them?
How would you pray in these circumstances?
Continue reading: Rina reminds us that God remains the judge. To see how His justice and forgiveness fit together, check out "The Justice of Forgiveness: The Verse We Often Overlook."
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