Prayer
for those in Authority
The following is an outline specifically for
praying for all those who are in authority including ministers, governmental,
business, and domestic leaders.
"When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice:
but when the wicked beareth rule,
the people mourn"
(Proverbs 29:2).
"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 Timothy 2:1-3).
"If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their
land"
(II Chronicles 7:14).
1. Pray that they may be saved if they are not.
"Who will have all men to be saved, and
to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:4).
2. Pray that the leaders come to a knowledge of the Truth.
"Who will have all men to be saved, and
to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:4).
3. Pray that they acknowledge, honor, and praise God who is the sovereign
ruler of heaven and earth.
"And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me,
and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth
for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is
from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34).
4. Pray that they, themselves, rule by example.
"Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock" (I Peter 5:3).
5. Pray that they have and demonstrate the wisdom of God
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall
be given him" (James 1:5).
6. Pray that they grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for
ever. Amen" (II Peter 3:18).
7. Pray that they be filled with and and walk in the Spirit of God.
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also
walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).
8. Pray that they have the freedom to boldly share the Word.
"And for me, that utterance may be given
unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of
the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).
9. Pray that they minister by the grace of God given to them.
"Having then gifts differing according
to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according
to the proportion of faith" (Romans 12:6).
10. Pray that they shepherd the flock willingly and with a ready mind.
"Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind" (I Peter 5:2).
11. Pray they are diligent in the Word and properly interpret and apply
it.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
12. Pray that they rule well their own house.
"One that ruleth well his own house,
having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For
if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of
the church of God?) (I Timothy 3:4-5).
13. Pray that they speak the Word with power.
"And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit
and of power" (I Corinthians 2:4).
14. Pray that they will do the work of evangelists (heralding the truth).
"But watch thou in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry"
(II Timothy 4:5).
15. Pray that they will labor with other laborers in the Lord.
"For we are labourers together with God:
ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According
to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I
have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man
take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (I Corinthians 3:9-10).
16. Pray that God will richly prosper their work.
"And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound
to every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8).
17. Pray that they will have a revelation of their inheritance in Christ
"To open their eyes, and to turn them
from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:18).
18. Pray that they will fully know the love of Christ
"And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God"
(Ephesians 3:19).
19. Pray that they will preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
"Unto me, who am less than the least
of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles
the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).
20. Pray that there will a unity of the Spirit among those in authority.
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father
of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all"
(Ephesians 4:3-6).
21. Pray that the leaders humbly submit themselves to God.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
22. Pray that they will resist the devil as directed by God.
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing
that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world" (I Peter 5:9).
23. Pray that the trials of their faith will produce patience and maturity.
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. (James 1:1-4).
24. Pray that they will affirm continually the mercy and grace of God.
"Not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he
shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying,
and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have
believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are
good and profitable unto men" (Titus 3:5-8).
25. Pray that they will also seek wise counsel.
"For by wise counsel thou shalt make
thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs
24:6).
26. Pray that God's will be done in their lives and our lives.
"After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen" (Matthew 6: 9-13).
