Daily Devotional
Do You Pray for Your Leaders?

March 18, 2023

Ponder This

We are to pray for our government. First Timothy 2:1-3 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” You may ask the question, “Should I pray for my leader if he’s wicked?” If that is the case, you should pray all the more for him. Why? Because God can change a ruler, remove a ruler, and overrule a ruler. Pray for those who are in authority.

One of the mightiest rulers in the Old Testament was a king named Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar ruled over ancient Babylon. Daniel was in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar where the king’s power came from. In Daniel 2:37, God said through Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar, “You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.” Nebuchadnezzar was not a godly king. He was so full of himself that God brought judgment on Him. God set him up, and God brought him down. We can pray for even the most wicked leaders, asking our heavenly Father to deal with them rightly.

• Have you ever struggled to pray for those in leadership? Why or why not?
• What would it look like to pray fervently for leaders even when you do not agree with them?

Practice This

Do some research and find out the names of your local, state, and national government leaders if you don’t know them. List their names and pray for them in their roles.