HOW TO PRAY FOR OUR RULERS
Dear Friends,
Usually I write a blog on Friday and it appears in your inbox the next day, and then in the bulletin on Sunday. I have done something different for the two blogs before the U.S. election, and this blog, which you are receiving today, after the U.S. election. I wrote all three blogs on October 23rd. So, I have no idea who the President-elect is, and who will control the House and the Senate. It is good for Christians to be involved in politics in a democracy. Please pray that more will be! However, just as the Bible teaches you to pray for our rulers regardless of how evil or virtuous they are in God’s eyes, you also need to pray for our leaders, regardless of who you voted for, (or would have voted for if you could). Once again I am informed by a prayer that was written during the English Reformation (mid 1500’s) and found in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Once again, this is a “fill-in-the-blank” prayer, and this is a good thing. As rulers change, there should be some consistency in your prayers for them, regardless as to who they are. Let’s look at “A Prayer for the Royal Family”. I have adapted it very slightly.
“Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech You to bless [fill in name of ruler] and all of his/her family. Endue them with Your Holy Spirit; enrich them with Your heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to Your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Once again this a prayer to pray and a concise theology.
First, let's be honest, some of you will gag at praying this prayer for the President-elect. If this is you, then you probably need to repent. You have made an idol out of your politics. But let others also be honest, some of you will enthusiastically want to pray this way for the President-elect, and you also probably need to repent - your enthusiasm comes from having “your side” win, not godliness. You also have probably made an idol out of your politics.
Second, remember that God takes no delight in the death of a sinner, but rather that you will turn from your wickedness and live. The other two blogs have looked at how to, and how not to, pray for rulers as they rule. This prayer is for the ruler, and his or her family. This prayer does not imply that the leader and/or the leader's family are Christians. It is godly and wise to pray that God will move in their life, leaving open whether He in His mercy will give them the greatest blessing, namely that they will personally come to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. If, or when, they do become Christians, the same prayer models how to pray for their growth as people. Please note, their conversion does not automatically mean that their politics will change and align with yours. As well, if you really detest the person in power, then maybe the Lord is trying to get your attention that you in particular have a vocation to pray for the salvation of the ruler and his or her family.
Third, you do not have to choose between praying for good things for someone and praying for their salvation. Pray for both, just as this prayer models. The prayer reminds us that God is “the fountain of all goodness”. He is One who blesses - in other words brings about good human thriving and flourishing. Real happiness is a real good. A good family is a good “good” as well, so the prayer wisely calls you to pray for the particular people in the family and the family as a family. This is important, as it is easy to forget the spouse and children (and the wider family) of the leader in your prayers.
Finally, please pray for the President-elect and his family. As well, consider using this brief prayer as a guide to praying for your own family, and for other families that you know. As always, please pray for me and my family. Thank you for praying.
George+