Dyer County Community Prayer Breakfast

The dilemma facing many Christians is how to pray for America and its leaders when we are clearly commanded to do so.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

Christians are to pray for those in governance over us regardless of political affiliation, and unfortunately, that is a sticking point for many Christians, but it should not be as the Bible says this in the Book of Romans.

Romans 13:1–2 “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.”

We can believe this passage or not, but believing it does not change the fact that the authorities that exist are instituted by God. That brings us to my original dilemma. How are Christians to pray for a nation and its leaders who are seemingly so ungodly?

(1) Christians must realize God is in control, and He has a plan if they want to pray for America and its leaders.

Habakkuk 1:5 “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.”

Proverbs 21:1 “A king’s heart is like channeled water in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.”

God is in charge, and He has a master plan, and He is at work in the United States of America, and whoever is President, God Almighty holds his or her heart in His hands. What does that mean? It means regardless of who the President is or who is in Congress, God’s plan is going to come to fruition.

It is God who can and will make the difference in America and not some political candidate representing the platform of a political party whose ultimate goal is power. Once Christians realize that God is in control then we can invoke His power to be at work in America.

(2) Christians must put God first if they want to pray for America and its leaders.

Matthew 22:37–38 “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.”

The greatest and most important commandment is that Christians love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds. This is the foundational commandment. When God is first, the foundation is laid for being obedient to His commands.

When God is first, we will pray for our leaders as we should because our goal would be to obey all of God’s commands because of our love for Him.

It is the responsibility of every Christian. When a Christian goes to work, God is to be first. When a Christian goes to school, God is to be first. When a Christian goes to church, God is to be first. When a Christian speaks in public about praying for our nation and its leaders, God is to be first, and if every Christian did just that our nation would be affected, but tragically, many of us had rather put a candidate first instead of God, and the results have been devastating.

(3) Christians must live godly lives if they want to pray for America and its leaders.

1 John 1:8–9 “If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 “and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Just praying is not enough. Christians must be willing to turn from their sins if they want God to answer prayers concerning our nation and its leaders. What our communities, cities, states, and nation needs is to see all Christians living like God is important to them, and if He is important to you, He will make a difference in your life.

Christians are going to sin, but a when Christian, whose desire is to live a godly life, sins, he or she will be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s convicting power and do as written in 1 John and 2 Chronicles. It is through that confession and repentance that a Christian maintains fellowship with God, and He is the One who answers our prayers.

Is praying for America and its leaders a priority in your life? It is not if you do not confess your sins. Steve Gaines told me one time during a conversation he and I were having that he has to pull over on I-240 to confess sins because of the drivers in Memphis. He and I laughed about it, but there is great truth in that statement. If we would just confess our sins as soon as we are convicted of them, we would be much better off, and our prayers for America would be answered more quickly.

(4) Christians must pray for God’s will to be done and not for their will to be done.

Now, I believe the first three things I have mentioned prepare us for the final hurdle. Christians must pray for God’s will to be done.

Do you know why prayer for our nation seemingly goes unanswered? Because many of us pray something like this:

“Dear God, please allow my candidate to win the election because I know it is in your will that he wins.”

That’s not praying for America. That is praying for me. Christ taught us how to pray for our nation.

Matthew 6:9–10 ““Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Politically, we are in a mess because Christians are not praying for God’s will to be done. Everything is framed in a political context.

We are, according to Jesus, to begin our prayer praising God, and then, we are to pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Why are we to begin our prayers praising God? Because we are to love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds. If we do that, we will praise Him and pray for His will to be done.

This might be hard to believe, but sometimes our will and God’s will may not align, and in that case, our will does not matter as we are to pray for God’s will to be done in our nation.

Conclusion:

Many times we say that ungodliness in America is the reason for its decline, and that is true, but it is not ungodliness in the lost world; it is ungodliness in Christianity. In 2 Chronicles 7, blessings from God were not dependent upon the ungodly. Blessings were dependent upon God’s people coming humbly to Him and turning from their evil ways.

Judgment never starts with the lost.

1 Peter 4:17 “For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?”

Judgment begins at the house of God. All of us who are saved are in the body of Christ regardless of denomination. It is us who can pray for America, but we can only do that when we realize God is in control and has a plan. It is us who can pray for America if we will put God first. It is us who can pray for America if we live godly lives. It is us who can pray for America if pray for His will to be done.

Is America’s future worth you praying for her? If it is important to you, I challenge you to consider the four things needed for you to pray effectively for her.