DEVOTION//I urge prayer

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, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

Have we prayed enough?

Is it possible that we American Christians haven't prayed enough for the leaders of our government?

In the last days -- not to mention weeks and months, if not years -- there has been shocking disrespect for the government God has allowed to rule over us. We've seen open rebellion. Social media posts by people who claim the name of Christ demean those who represent them. They  spread lies, with no effort to test the truthfulness of the memes they share. Even our leaders create and publish fake news without shame. Legislative gridlock has fostered dysfunction in our national and state capitols. Laws are passed that hurt rather than help people.

How much of this is the result of Christians neglecting to pray for our nation and those who lead our nation?

Why we pray

Earnest, on-our-knees prayer for "kings and all those in authority" (regardless of their political party, their morality, their values) "is good and pleases God our Savior."

Notice: "God our Savior." The Spirit who has brought us to faith in Jesus urges us to pray for our government because we gratefully seek to please our Savior and do what he tells us is right. "God our Savior" -- at unimaginable cost -- has paid the punishment for our sins and fully adopted us as his children. So we pray for our government.

We pray for our government so “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

We pray for our government because it's in a nation where we can “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” that the gospel is more easily shared. We pray for our government so that, in that environment, more people will be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Time to repent?

Is it possible that we American Christians haven't prayed enough for the leaders of our government?

I need to confess, "God my Savior, forgive me for the lack of effort I have given to praying for and praising you for all the people you allow to govern the United States of America."

Should that confession be yours, as well?