Today is Day 14 of the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order. Whether it ends in another fourteen days or it lasts longer than expected, it is good to spend time each day in prayer. Since it’s Monday and given Paul’s instruction to us in First Timothy, let’s pray for our leaders.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…
1 Timothy 2:1-3
While we do not have a king in this nation, we do have many in positions of responsibility who have a tremendous impact on our lives. We should pray for President Trump and for Governor Whitmer. We should pray for Senators Stabenow and Peters. We should pray for Representative Amash. None of these has an easy job. The decisions they make impact us all so we should ask for God to grant them wisdom. Notice also, however, that Paul instructs us to offer thankgiving for them. Whether we agree with every step our elected officials make, the command from the Lord is that we offer to him thanksgiving for those in high positions. The truth is God has appointed—in his wisdom—those who are in these high positions to lead our nation through this particular difficulty we are facing, so we should offer up to God thanksgiving for them, while also praying for their wisdom and skill in leading our nation.
Notice the reason for this instruction: that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Paul’s point is that the outcome of our prayers for those in high positions ought to be our godly character and our ability to live our lives for him, representing him in every way. Let us live our lives in such a way that we show others the greatness of our God in the midst of difficulty and pain, and let’s pray for those in high positions.