1 Timothy 2:1-2 clearly instructs us to pray “for kings and all those in authority”. Every nation faces a continuous spiritual battle for political rulership. When there is no or little prayer offered for a nation before the throne of grace, the powers of darkness will work hard to influence people and gain control of governments and those in positions of authority. The consequences can be catastrophic! How then can we be faithful in praying for our nation? Who must we pray for and what should we pray for them?
Practical guidelines
- Keep an eye on the daily news to gain understanding of the matters to keep in prayer.
- Praying specific prayers is very important. Take some time to wait on the Lord and ask Him to show you, through the Holy Spirit, the individuals and matters at hand that are on His heart.
- Guard your heart and emotions from praying from a place of criticism, anger, resentment or judgment.
- Pray for God’s blessing and favour on the government – to do His will and fulfil His purposes on earth as it is in heaven.
What and who should we pray for?
1. Pray for the president, ministers, premiers, members of Parliament, provincial authorities, mayors, advisors, ambassadors and government officials. When you know the names of these people, pray for them by name. The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1). Remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. (Proverbs 25:5).
2. Pray for Parliament and legislation; that laws will not be passed which will lead to injustice, wastefulness and oppression, nor oppose the Word of God, nor hinder the proclamation of the gospel. By justice, a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. (Proverbs 29:4). If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. (Proverbs 29:14).
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you view government leaders the way Jesus sees them — as people appointed by Him to do His work, people who are sinners and need personal salvation and in need of God’s wisdom to do their work. Pray for them with the mind of Christ. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16).
4. Pray that God will reveal Himself to them so they will see and experience His love. Pray for the blessing of God on their lives.
5. Pray for their families: for peace in their homes, that their families will serve the Lord and will support the leaders in truth, holiness and with wisdom.
6. Ask the Lord for all crime and corruption to be exposed, and to remove ungodly government leaders who bring harm to the country and replace them with Godly leaders.
7. Pray for leaders to realise that they are appointed by God and will have to answer to Him for what was entrusted to them. Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. (Daniel 2:20-22).
8. Pray for the salvation of all government leaders and for peace in the country so that the gospel can spread quickly. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 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 Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
9. Pray for every government leader to be just and to govern with justice, without prejudice; that their hearts will be filled with love and with the fear of the Lord. Pray that these leaders will live with integrity. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.(Micah 6:8). Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. (Psalm 2:10-11). Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. (Proverbs 20:28).
10. Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict government leaders of sin where necessary, and that they will confess it and turn away from it. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:8-11).
12. Pray for the breaking of the powers of the Evil one who are trying to get and keep governments in their power. Thank God for the victory of Jesus on the cross. Proclaim and declare this victory over the powers of darkness every day. Pray that the wisdom and glory of God in Christ will be made known to the principalities and powers, as well as, to earthly governments and authorities. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12). Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7).
13. Pray that the church will be a fearless, bold and clear Scriptural prophetic voice to correct the government when and as necessary. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2).
14. Pray that the Church will find favour with the government to enable and continue doing its work. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men. (Luke 2:52).
Scripture prayer for the Government
Praise be to Your name, O God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are Yours. You change times and seasons; You set up kings and depose them. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. You reveal deep and hidden things; You know what lies in darkness, and light dwells with You (Daniel 2:20-22).
Remove the wicked counsellors.
Father, we come before Your throne with requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for our government and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases You God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Our government’s heart is in Your hand LORD; You direct it like a watercourse wherever You please (Proverbs 21:1). Remove the wicked counsellors from the presence of our government leaders, the president and ministers, so that they can rule in righteousness and we will be safe (Proverbs 25:5). We pray that the government will treat the poor fairly, so that we can have stability in our country (Proverbs 29:14).
“Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling”.
(Psalm 2:10-11)
Lord, show the president, the cabinet and the government leaders, what is good and what You, the LORD, require of them. Work in their hearts to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before you, our God (Micah 6:8). Therefore, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we declare: “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:10-11). Father, fill the hearts of our government leaders with righteousness so that their eyes will see the evil and wipe it out so that our country will be safe and peaceful (Proverbs 20:8). Father, work in the hearts of the leaders of government, to act in righteousness when legislating their decisions. May the Holy Spirit also convict them of sin, of righteousness and of Your coming judgment (John 16:8-11).
Father, we know that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Protect our government from the powers of this dark world, that they will not be involved in witchcraft, idolatry or any occult activities. Have mercy on us! We pray that they will submit themselves to You. As Your Church, we resist the devil where he tries to attack and deceive the government (James 4:7).
Father, the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
May the Church be prepared in season and out of season.
Lord, we pray for the Church to be a prophetic voice to the government to guide and direct them in Your ways. Also, that the Church will be prepared in season and out of season: to correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
