Prayer For The Leaders Of Our Country

Leadership & My Prayer for New Year’s 2016

As a student of leadership I must offer my hopes and prayers for the coming year, and to do so I will defer to the wisdom of George Washington.

It will be a critical year and those of us who give serious thought to the subject of leadership have a responsibility to speak out. I will avoid becoming overtly political, but this year will be dominated by politics.

The subject of leadership and how, or why, voters choose leaders cannot be avoided.

There are voices and trends in public sentiment that today represent the greatest threat to democracy. We should be reminded that great countries and companies are never defeated by an external barbarian, but by the internal loss of principle and purpose, and the resulting disintegration from the loss of unity.

This is the lesson of leadership and life cycles and is a far greater danger than any small minded terrorists, who present us with the choice to adhere to, or abandon, our principles and seek refuge in the seduction of a personality. Personalities have often gained power by agitating fears and turning one group against another.

It is the seed of despotism and the destruction of democracy.

I am not frightened by one obvious bombastic personality, but by the inability of my fellow citizens to recognize the danger of ego, personality over constitutional process.

I pray that voters, and all leaders, will consider the following as they make decisions in the coming year.

Put Principles and Process above Personality

George Washington. When was his moment of greatness that justifies his recognition as “the Father of our Country?” Let me answer that. It is important, as it represents the birth of the soul of America.

On December 4th, 1783, immediately following the departure of the British fleet from New York Harbor, George Washington met with his officers at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan to bid them farewell.

The officers had not been paid by a Continental Congress that refused to raise the necessary taxes and had instead given the officers IOU’s of doubtful value. In the view of these officers, George Washington was the only legitimate source of authority in these States that could barely be called a country.

They had no faith in the Congress to fulfill their duty and they wanted Washington to lead them on a march to Annapolis where the Congress was then meeting.

Everyone in the room could see tears in Washington eyes as he thanked them for their service. Knowing the sacrifices made by these officers, his band of brothers, he was pained to ask them to make one more sacrifice and return home.

He told them that this new nation must be one of laws and principles, not one dominated by personalities. Washington was a man who displayed no spirit of ego or self-aggrandizement.

When attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Washington was elected to preside over the proceedings although it is said that he only spoke twice, once to remind the participants not to leave papers lying around.

Washington never campaigned for any office, but was drafted to serve as our first President. He was drafted precisely because of his honorable service to the new country and because of his absence of self conceit. He much preferred to return to his home at Mount Vernon and be the gentleman farmer.

During his term as President he served as a moderate voice, listening carefully to the strong and articulate arguments of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton who had very different views of the role of the central government. It was his ability to seek compromise, not the victory of one over the other, that held the fragile country together. He feared the developing schism.

I believe that every American should be required to read Washington’s Farewell Address to Congress. It is an important and profound document both in regard to our history, but also as a reflection on the role of leadership.

Washington issued a warning to his nation that two tendencies represented the greatest threats to its future.

He begins his advice by reminding the citizens of the power and advantage of the unity of the Nation and to avoid regional divisions or interests to detract from that unity.

One of the expedients of Party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions & aims of other Districts. You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jealousies & heart burnings which spring from these misrepresentations. They tend to render Alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal Affection

The Spirit of Party

But, he then elaborates on his concerns:

Let me now take a more comprehensive view, & warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally.

This Spirit, unfortunately, is inseperable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human Mind. It exists under different shapes in all Governments, more or less stifled, controuled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism.

The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

This warning could not be more relevent to the politics and leadership alternatives of our own day. Let us not fail to heed his advice!

The Attachment to Other Nations

Washington’s second warning concerns the attachment to foreign interests which he feared would follow from the “Spirit of Party”.

It opens the door to foreign influence & corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country, are subjected to the policy and will of another.

So wise, a passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils.

Sympathy for the favourite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels & Wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification: It leads also to concessions to the favourite Nation of priviledges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the Nation making the concessions–by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained–& by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal priviledges are withheld: And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favourite Nation) facility to betray, or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition corruption or infatuation.

Leadership Personalities and Disintegration

Those of you who are familiar with my life cycle curve may remember that in maturity, of either civilizations or corporations, principles and process are more important than personalities.

In early immature cultures personalities dominate and the charasmatic leader rules.

In disintegration and decline, personalities again emerge as pretend saviors who appeal to the fears of the citizens and point to demons in the form of one group or another.

All cultures, whether of countries or corporations, disintegrate in decline. All cultures progress as they create unity between divergent groups or tribes. It is the job of leaders to promote unity within their organizations or countries.

I pray, if I only had one prayer for our leaders, that they will seek that which unites and dismiss that which divides. I pray that our citizens will vote only for those who promote unity of thought and action and shun those who seek to promote themselves by arguing false dichotomies and division. This is my prayer for the coming year.

Источник: //www.lmmiller.com/new-years-prayer-2016/

Praying for Government Leaders (Part 2): A Prayer Guide

Jan 21st 17 Posted by Natalie Nichols in Believing God, Christian Living

As believers, we’re instructed to pray for “kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2). It is our duty and responsibility to pray for our government leaders.

Part One of this post included a prayer for the president of the United States and his cabinet. These prayer points and scripture references can serve as a guide as you pray for all government leaders—from your local leaders to the state and federal level.

Instructions for Us as We Pray

We are to pray for our leaders and all who are in authority

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3, NIV).

We are to pray respectfully for our leaders.

“Honor all people. … Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17, NKJV).

We are to pray with the clear understanding that government authority is established by God.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1, NKJV).

We are to pray knowing that God’s Word says:

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1, NKJV). (Tweet this)

Too often we don’t pray for our leaders in government because:

1. We don’t know what to pray.
2. We feel we over generalize in the request itself, and also when referencing the target of the prayer (e.g. “God bless my leaders”).
3. We feel it’s hopeless to pray—our leaders will remain corrupt, deceitful, or immoral.

The bulleted list below counters each of these hindrances to prayer.

1. It includes specific requests you can make in prayer.
2. It also includes the scriptural basis for the requests, reminding you it’s not hopeless to pray such; it’s God’s will!
3. It also has a place for you to insert your leader’s name. (A quick google search should give you the names of your local, state and federal leaders.)

This is an abbreviated, summary version. The same prayer points are below, with the full text of the scripture references.

Insert the name of your local, state, and federal leader in the prayer guide below.

–

• Open the heart of [name] to hear and respond to the Gospel message if they do not know you. — Acts 16:14

• Help [name] know that his/her office was granted to him/her by God. — Daniel 2:19-22

• Help [name] to accept wise counsel. — Proverbs 11:14; 15:22

• Teach [name] to trust in You. — Psalm 21:7

• Protect [name] from the influence of the evil one. — 2 Thessalonians 3:3

• Pray that [name] will find wisdom and direction in God’s word. — Proverbs 21:1

• Deliver [name] from opinions contrary to Your Word. — Psalm 119:105

• Give [name] discretion, foresight, and understanding in making decisions. — 1 Chronicles 22:12

• Enable [name] to make decisions according to God’s truth. — Proverbs 2:10-11

• Protect [name] from harm, and bless and protect his/her family. — Psalm 21:11; Ezra 6:10

• Enable [name] to carry out his/her duties with humility toward You and toward others. — 1 Peter 5:5

• Give [name] the courage to do the right thing even when urged to do the wrong thing. — Proverbs 2:11–15

• Give [name] a tender heart of compassion toward those he/she leads and serves. — Colossians 3:12 [1]

–

* Points in prayer taken from How to Pray for Our Leaders1

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Open the heart of [name] to hear and respond to the Gospel message if they do not know you.

“Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

Help [name] know that his/her office was granted to him/her by God.

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and might are His.And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wiseAnd knowledge to those who have understanding.He reveals deep and secret things;He knows what is in the darkness,

And light dwells with Him” (Daniel 2:20-22. NKJV) (Tweet this)

Help [name] to accept wise counsel.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14, NKJV. See also Proverbs 15:22) (Tweet this)

Teach [name] to trust in You.

“For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved” (Psalm 21:7, NKJV).

Protect [name] from the influence of the evil one. 

“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NKJV). (Tweet this)

Pray that [name] will find wisdom and direction in God’s word.

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1, NKJV).

Deliver [name] from opinions contrary to Your Word. 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, NKJV). (Tweet this)

Give [name] discretion, foresight, and understanding in making decisions.

“Above all, may the Lord give you insight and understanding when He puts you in charge of Israel so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God” (1 Chronicles 22:12, HCSB). (Tweet this)

Enable [name] to make decisions according to God’s truth. 

“For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart.
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:10-11).

Protect [name] from harm, and bless and protect his/her family.

“Though they intend to harm you and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail” (Psalm 21:11, HCSB).

“That they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons” (Ezra 6:10, NKJV).

Enable [name] to carry out his/her duties with humility toward You and toward others.

 “wise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5).

Give [name] the courage to do the right thing even when urged to do the wrong thing.

“Discretion will watch over you,and understanding will guard you,

12 rescuing you from the way of evil—

from the one who says perverse things,

13 from those who abandon the right paths

to walk in ways of darkness,

14 from those who enjoy doing evil

and celebrate perversion,

15 whose paths are crooked,

and whose ways are devious” (Proverbs 2:11–15, HCSB)

Give [name] a tender heart of compassion toward those he/she leads and serves.

“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, HCSB).

–

• “A prayer guide as you #pray for your government leaders. One-sentence requests, with scripture basis for each. Tweet
• “I urge that prayers … be made … for kings and all those who are in authority. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Tweet
• “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” ~ Proverbs 21:1 Tweet
• “Wisdom and might are [God’s] … He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise.” ~ Daniel 2:20-21 Tweet
• “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” ~ Proverbs 11:14  Tweet
• “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:3  Tweet
• “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ~ Psalm 119:105  Tweet
• “May the Lord give you insight and understanding when He puts you in charge…” ~ 1 Chronicles 22:12 #PrayerforLeaders  Tweet

–

Questions: 

• Do you pray regularly for your government leaders, as we’re exhorted to do? 
• How is your confidence as you pray for those in your government? Are you despondent, having concluded that your government leaders will always be corrupt, deceptive, full of pride, or immoral? 
• Do these prayer points and scripture references encourage you to pray in different ways than you’ve been praying? If so, in what ways? 

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13 Best Prayers for the Nation and its Leaders

With so much conflict and poverty in the world, it is important to keep your nation in prayer. These best prayers for the nation and its leaders encourage the Lord’s will to be done in any situation while lifting up your current leaders to God Almighty.

Prayer #1

Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety.

Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And sustain us by your Holy Spirit

Prayer #2

Heavenly Father, we pray that our president and leaders will honor You and respect You as the One and only True God. We ask that You give us government leaders who will pray for Your Will and guidance.

Lord, we ask that You pour out Your Spirit on this nation to help each of us discern good from evil, not as the eyes of man but through spiritual eyes.

Lord, we ask that You humble our hearts so that we will be a nation filled with gratitude and thankfulness. In Jesus Almighty Name, Amen.

Prayer #3

Heavenly Father, today I pray for our nation. I ask that You would give our President wisdom beyond his own understanding and the courage to choose the right path no matter how narrow the gate.

I pray for all in authority over us that You would give them the grace and strength to stand against the temptation to use power as a weapon but rather to carry it reverently as one would a child. I pray for the spiritual leaders of our country that they would hear Your voice and know your heart.

I pray that they would lead from their knees and by that simple grace bring each one of us to our knees before Your throne. Have mercy on our nation Lord, In Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #4

Lord God, we desperately need your wisdom. You have given us a great country, founded on principles and truths from Your Word. We need men and women who will honor You, trust You, and lead us once again back to You. We pray for servant leaders who love the things You love and who care more about others than themselves.

Raise up leaders with the greatest potential of godly leadership, those who can ease confusion, expose illusion, and heal delusion. You alone hold the power to turn the hearts of leaders, but You listen and use our prayers to move them into right action. Help us to be faithful to care and to pursue Your heart in prayer.

In the precious and powerful name of Jesus,
Amen

Prayer #5

O Almighty God, the Father of all humanity, turn, we pray, the hearts of all peoples and their rulers, that by the power of your Holy Spirit peace may be established among the nations on the foundation of justice, righteousness and truth; through him who was lifted up on the cross to draw all people to himself,

your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer #6

Father, I bring the needs of our government before You and ask You to bless our nation through godly leaders. I magnify the Name of Jesus and declare that He is Lord over this nation.

Father, I pray according to 1 Timothy 2:1-3 which says, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

I pray, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, for our president, the vice president, all the Cabinet and the chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court to receive the wisdom of God, to act in obedience to that wisdom and for the power of God to flow in their lives.

I pray for Your protection to cover all our law enforcement officers and the men and women of the military. I ask for godly counsel and wisdom for judges across this land. In the Name of Jesus, I pray that You and Your kingdom of righteousness be manifested in the hearts of all those who are in authority in any way.

Thank You, Father, for hearing my prayers that are in accordance to Your will. I receive the answers, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Prayer #7

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer #8

God of ages, in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of peril. Now when our land is troubled, be near to judge and save. May leaders be led by your wisdom; may they search your will and see it clearly. If we have turned from your way, help us to reverse our ways and repent. Give us your light and your truth to guide us; through Jesus Christ,

who is Lord of this world, and our Savior. Amen.

Prayer #9

Heavenly Father, I bring the needs of our government before You and ask You to bless our nation through godly leaders. I magnify the Name of Jesus and declare that He is Lord over this nation. Amen.

Prayer #10

We look to You and to You, only, Lord. Help us make wise decisions that move our country in the right direction. Help us to do our part in praying and in staying with what we know is right according to the truth of Your Word.

Teach us to make our actions count and our words matter, and line them both up to Your sense of rightness, not ours. Guide us with Your eye; grip us with Your strong arm; teach us what we need to know to make our lives—and our nation—count for you.

We pray for our leaders, but we ask You to make us both leaders and followers: leading in the way of Truth, and following those who honor You.

In the precious and powerful name of Jesus,
Amen

Prayer #11

Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You that You are the most High God Who rules in the kingdom of men and that You set up leaders in their various offices and remove them by Your mighty will.

Father we lift up the leaders of our country and all those that You have set up in places of authority to rule and govern our nation, both political and religious.. and we pray that they would rule our land and the many institutions with wisdom and integrity.

We pray that each one would carry out their various responsibilities with honesty and for the benefit of the nation. Clothe each one with righteousness and justice – and we pray that all selfish ambitions would be laid aside and that Your plans and purposes are fulfillled for the well-being of all citizens.

May Your ways be know in our country and Your name be lifted up in the corridors of power – and guide our country we pray into the ways of peace, justice and truth – this we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #12

Loving Father at a time when there is increasing unrest and growing fear of what is coming on the earth, we bring before You the leaders of the various nations of the world and pray that in Your grace and mercy You would intervene and help those that are suffering so greatly in so many nations.

We pray that world leaders would seek after wisdom and justice, mercy and truth, freedom, godly grace and a desire to know You more and more. We pray that those that are deliberately opposing Your will and pushing an anti-God agenda would be removed from their office and that their plans and purposes would be exposed, and become ineffective.

We grieve for those that are living in war-torn countries of where there is much blood-shed, corruption and unrest in their governments and pray that in Your pity and grace You would intervene – by removing corrupt leaders and replacing them with those of integrity.

But Lord we also know that until the Lord Jesus returns as Prince of Pease to set up His millennial kingdom.. the current unrest, wars and rumours of wars, corruption and distress will continue – and so we pray that You would be merciful to those that are suffering.. due to the increasingly unrest and fear that is sweeping the nations of the world today – this we ask in Jesus name, Amen.

Prayer #13

Prayer Heavenly Father we acknowledge that You are a gracious and merciful God but we also know that you are also holy and righteous and cannot and will not look upon sin.

Be merciful we pray to the nations whose leaders have turned their backs on You and the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom You sent to die for their sins – be merciful we pray to all those in positions of power who are seeking to implement a humanistic and anti-god agenda. Be merciful we pray to those men and women in high places that are seeking to remove all vestiges of Christianity and the One true God from their nation’s laws and rules – and protect all those that are believers in the Lord Jesus we pray.

Look down in pity on those that are under such leadership and are required to live their lives under a godless regime – and we pray that in Your loving-kindness and great mercy You would deliver them from the tyrannous rule that that has replaced the truths of God.

Have mercy on the leaders who have deliberately rejected Your path of truth and justice and bring them to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, in Jesus name, Amen.
About the Author of this Blog Post
Crystal Ayres has served as our editor-in-chief for the last five years. She is a proud veteran, wife and mother. The goal of ConnectUs is to publish compelling content that addresses some of the biggest issues the world faces. If you would to reach out to contact Crystal, then go here to send her a message.

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