This article is part 2 in our newest series on intercession. To read part 1, click here.

I urge, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority —that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:1-4). 

View Comments (0)

When Paul wrote this epistle to the church, it was stressing the importance of prayer for those who hold positions of power. This was written while the church was being afflicted and persecuted by its leaders. The Apostle Paul would become a martyr under the Emperor Nero in Rome. Asking the church to intercede for wicked rulers like Nero seems unfathomable. It was not about the rulers themselves; God desires that all men would be saved, and that includes evil leaders and those who oppose Him and the message we bring in His name.

Visit your state page to pray.

In the Old Testament, we actually see intercession under compromised or ungodly leaders quite a bit. One figure who stands out and sets an example for us is the Prophet Samuel. This mighty man of God, prophet, priest, and judge, taught the people to worship and obey God until He was no longer enough. They wanted a King to lead and rule over them as other nations had. Samuel interceded for this rebellious nation for rejecting God as their leader, but God gave them what they wanted: a King (1 Samuel 8). 

Samuel finds, calls, and anoints Saul to be Israel’s first king. First, King Saul disobeys God by presenting the burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel. He succumbed to fear of man rather than the fear of the Lord. He lost his kingdom when he spared Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).  We know that God chose a young man after his heart to become the next king. In desperation, Saul turned to a medium for counsel, which God strictly forbade, and his rebellion cost him his life and his sons, too.

There Is Nothing New Under the Sun

The Israelites were God’s chosen, blessed, set apart, His royal priesthood, but they still wanted to be like other nations around them. They were consumed by the culture that the Lord warned them about when they occupied the land. They worshipped their pagan gods and goddesses. They wanted kings to rule them, instead of God. Does this seem familiar if we look at America?

We are a blessed nation; we are “grafted into the olive branch,” being in a covenant with God through our faith in Jesus Christ. We are a nation with a rich Christian heritage, and yet many Americans have been consumed by the culture. Americans have worshipped the modern-day gods and goddesses of feminism, Moloch, Baal, and Asherah, and are being influenced by an antichrist spirit. Our younger generations are being taught to despise our Christian roots and freedoms. We have a system in place that allows us the freedom to vote and place righteous men and women in seats of authority. Yet men and women are voting for Socialist, Marxist, and Islamic people into power, just as they have in other nations. Without realizing that those very things destroyed those nations. 

The Prophet Samuel did not condemn the people when they rejected God. He said something interesting that we must remember. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way (1 Samuel 12:23). 

Samuel says that he will not sin by ceasing to pray for the nation, which means that prayerlessness is a sin. May we never be a people who take for granted the power God has given us to stand before him, pray, and act for ourselves, and stand in the gap for others. If we judge by what the mainstream media portrays, it seems as if America has turned her back on God, but that is not true. What they don’t show is the revival happening among the younger generations and in several cities across America. No matter how dire a situation looks, we must never stop praying for our nation. God expects us to.

The second thing Samuel shows us is the heart posture of an intercessor. 

Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel ( 1 Samuel 15:34-35). 

Samuel mourned; he grieved deeply for Saul when he failed and lost his kingdom. He had a heart like God’s; even the Lord regretted making Saul king. We may be understandably angry with our current leaders. Have we mourned or grieved enough to pray for them? If we can be honest, it’s really easy to pray for leaders we like, the godly and upright. But what about those like AOC, Gavin Newsom, and Ilhan Omar? It’s pretty fair to say their policies are not earning any favor with Christians. Samuel mourned and interceded for Saul. If those names bother you, I present a reason we can intercede with hope. What about Representative John Fetterman? I know Pennsylvania had intercessors covering him, and God has begun a good work in that man’s life. This is the power of intercession for our leaders. 

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same (Luke 6:32-33). 

Intercession For All Who Are In Authority

When Paul asked the church to pray for all who are in authority, he meant all. Not just the Christian or conservative leaders, but all, even the ones we do not like. Intercession for them does not mean we support the evil they stand for; it means we humble ourselves and trust God can do anything. If He can give a warning dream and humble someone like Nebuchadnezzar, he can warn anyone. If He could raise up Cyrus to fulfill his purpose, he can do it again. The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1). He can turn someone’s heart, or remove them and replace them, as He did with Saul and David. 

That We May Live Peaceful and Quiet Lives

Even after Saul’s death, Israel faced a three-year famine. In his zeal, Saul foolishly killed the Gibeonites, breaking a covenant made between them and Joshua that guaranteed their safety (Joshua 9:3-15). Although the Gibeonites deceived the Israelites to save their lives, God honored their peace treaty. Yet, Saul broke it, and the land suffered because of it. This was another reason God asked the church to intercede for leaders. What our leaders do doesn’t just affect us, our cities, states, and nation; it affects our land. When they defend and protect sin, we see and feel the consequences; when they pursue godliness and holiness, we reap the blessings as a nation. 

This is Good And Pleases God

The most important reason to intercede for our nation’s leaders is the simplest. Intercession for those in authority pleases God, who wants all men (and women) to be saved. God wants Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to turn from her ways and be saved. God would rather Rep. James Talerico turn to him and be saved, even though he is preaching another Jesus. God would rather see Governor Gavin Newsom repent and turn away than spend eternity in hell. Is what they are pushing terrible for America? Absolutely! Do we want to see righteous leaders in their place? Yes Lord! The Lord wants us to intercede for them, and what He does with our obedience is beyond our control. 

And when we don’t know how to pray for our leaders who support evil, we have a Helper called the Holy Spirit who can intercede for us and give language to our wordless prayers, grief, tears, and groanings.

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:26-28). 

Father, I come before You and repent of my prayerlessness for those difficult leaders. Those who promote and protect evil, those who lie about Your character, and those who twist Your word. Those who want to see You completely erased from our nation. I confess I have been angry at them, and it has affected my intercession. Lord, keep my heart tender. Give me a heart that will mourn and grieve over the sinfulness of our elected officials, so when I am tempted to scorn or complain, I will humble my soul and pray. Even on their worst days, You desire that they may be saved and come to the truth. Despite how I feel, Jesus shed his blood for them, too. May intercessors not sin against you by ceasing to pray for our nation and leaders, in Jesus ‘ name, amen.

This article is part 2 in our newest series on intercession. Check back regularly for future parts!

Share your prayers for our elected leaders in the comments.

IFA contributing writer Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor and listen to her podcast, Something To Share. Photo Credit: doidam10 via Canva Business.