Your burden to pray for kings and all that are in authority is most scriptural and most needful, and we join you heartily therein. The apostle exhorts that first of all petitions and prayers and intercessions and givings of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. It is a good and acceptable thing to remember before the throne those whom God has placed over us, for the powers that be are ordained of God, and the Christian will cheerfully submit to all lawful rule and righteous authority, while he looks to a higher King.
We never encounter a difficulty now but we resolve it by appealing to the wisdom of God, and never meet with any opposition but what we overcome it by leaning upon the power of God. Therefore we pray that the President, the Vice President, and all that sit in cabinet and counsel may be granted not worldly wisdom, but that wisdom whose price is above rubies, which cometh only from above. The world is not going to be saved by worldly wisdom or by fine oratory, but by the power that is in Christ. We ask the Lord to set a guard over their mouths and to grant them the tongue of the wise, that they may do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with God, and that they may be surrounded by godly counsel which speaketh truth and not flattery. May the Lord keep them night and day, for he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, and lest any hurt them, may he keep them by his mighty hand.
Concerning unity among the nations, we pray indeed, yet we remember that there is a unity which is worth keeping and a unity which is to be avoided. There is a unity of devils who never disagree under their great liege master, and a unity of error which is unity in ruin. We do not endeavor to keep the unity of superstition or of party spirit, but endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is not an ecclesiastical unity of denomination or of mere political agreement, but unity in the Truth of God through the Spirit of God. Let us live near to Christ, for divisions never begin with those who are full of love to the Savior. We ask that God would give the nations as the inheritance of his Son, and that he would frustrate every plan of the enemy to divide and destroy, and that angelic protection and heavenly intelligence may be given according to his promise. When Daniel purposed to understand and to humble himself before God, his words were heard from the first day, and we are taught that beings move behind the scenes which we cannot see, wherefore we must put on the whole armor of God and stand in prayer.
For your own region and city we pray with you, that you may seek the welfare of the place where the Lord has set you, and pray unto the Lord for it. Godly people hedge the mansion in with their prayers, and who can tell what blessings God gives to unconverted men because of their converted neighbors. We pray that the Holy Spirit may convict the neighbor, the student, the teacher, the workman, the parent, the pastor, the law keeper and the leader, of sin and of righteousness and of judgment to come, and that the Father who draws men to his Son would graciously grant saving faith as his gift, through hearing the Word. May the Lord be a wall of fire round about your dwelling, that no evil may befall you, and may he give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.
For provision we thank God with you for daily bread, and we ask that with godliness and contentment you may have a competent portion of the good things of this life with his blessing upon them. Wisdom is man's true path and the compass by which he must steer across the trackless waste of life, and without it he is as the wild ass's colt running here and there. May the Lord restore the years that the locust has eaten, and cause the fruit of the Spirit to abound in you, love, joy and peace, and a cheerful heart which doeth good like a medicine. Though he has torn, he will heal us, though he has smitten, he will bind us up, and instead of shame his people shall have a double portion and everlasting joy.
We remember also those in chains, as bound with them, and the persecuted church throughout the world. We pray for the release of prisoners of faith, for relief for those who suffer for the name of Christ, and for the peace of Jerusalem and all the seed of Abraham, that they may look upon him whom they have pierced and find life. All these things are possible in the name of Jesus Christ, for it is in his name that we have access to the Father, and there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. May our prayers be aligned with his will, and may his kingdom come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We thank the Lord that since the day we heard of your supplication we do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, striving according to his working which worketh in us mightily. To him be glory. Amen.