Praying For Government Leaders and Elections

 Parliament was dissolved on Sunday as our Prime Minister made the trip to the Governor General and had an election set for September 20. 

Now daily news is filled with the campaigns of the national leaders and local candidates.  Driving yesterday I began to see the lawn signs going up in support of particular candidates.

With so much going on in our communities and our world we need to call out to God for wisdom and strength for our leaders and a willingness for them to make decisions that reflect God’s heart for all people.

Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them.  Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord.  1 Timothy 2:1-2

No set of politicians have all the answers and certainly in these days where political parties are ruled much more by back room strategists than those who look with vision at what is best for the country, we need to pray often and seek God’s help. 

God ultimately is in control of who is governing in any country and will use anyone – good or evil – as God moves His good and perfect agenda to fulfillment.

World events are under his control. He removes kings and sets others on their thrones. He gives wise men their wisdom and scholars their intelligence.  Daniel 2:21

Well God, You’ve told us to pray for our governments and the leadership and so that’s what we are coming to You to do today.  We see great needs.  We see all sorts of underlying principles for anyone who even wants to get involved in politics that are so far from the standards You have laid out for wise leadership. 

Our hearts grieve for decisions made over the decades that flaunt Your compassion and truth but which serve the agenda of those who have a loud voice. Forgive us God for ways we have strayed, not just here in Canada but around the world, and left Your ways to the side in service of our own convenient agendas.

We’ll use words from Psalm 72 as we pray for our leaders in whatever country we live in.  At this time of the writing it was a king in leadership but these principles are the same for presidents or prime ministers as well.

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.

May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.

Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.

May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever! May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.  May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.  Psalm 72:1-7

So Lord, across the earth, we implore You to raise up leaders that seek Your heart and follow Your ways.  As impossible as this seems, we know that You are able.  You are in charge.  We walk with You today.  Amen