Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing this burden for prayer and for your desire to see the Lord's reign reflected in the lives of those who govern. Your heart to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and to intercede for those in authority so that we may live peaceful lives and the gospel may go forward, is right and pleasing to God.
Scripture teaches that God ordained authority and that those who rule are accountable to Him. The instruction that a ruler should write for himself a copy of God's law and live by it points to the same truth that wisdom itself declares, that by wisdom kings reign and princes decree justice. When leaders incline their ear to wisdom and apply their heart to understanding, they are given counsel and strength to govern justly. We join you in asking that those who serve in national leadership, in courts, in defense and intelligence, and in every place of influence would be guided by the Word of God and by sound, godly counsel, for in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
At the heart of that prayer is the need for true wisdom. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. To fear Him is to turn away from pride and arrogance and every perverse way and to depart from evil. That departure is not only a moral choice but a protection, for when wisdom enters the heart and knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul, discretion preserves a person and understanding keeps him. This is the wisdom we should ask for on behalf of our leaders, not the wisdom that is earthly and self seeking, which breeds envy and strife and confusion and every evil work, but the wisdom that comes from above. That wisdom is first pure, then peaceable and gentle, willing to listen, full of mercy and good fruit. It is shown not by words alone but by a manner of life that seeks purity and peace. Human wisdom apart from God cannot find God and ends in foolishness, but God reveals Himself by His Spirit and gives wisdom liberally to those who ask.
With that wisdom comes deliverance and discernment. Understanding delivers from the way of the evil person, from those who leave upright paths to walk in darkness, who rejoice in doing wrong and delight in what is perverse, whose ways are crooked. It also delivers from flattering lips and deceitful speech, from imposters and those who claim to know God while denying His power. We join you in praying for protection from falsehood, from leaks and secret plans meant for harm, and from those who would use their position to mislead. Pray that those in authority would have eyes to see straight ahead, to ponder the path of their feet, to put away perverse speech and to remove their feet from evil, and to turn away from such people when they are exposed. The prudent person foresees evil and takes refuge, while the simple go on and suffer for it. Our refuge is in Christ, and we can ask that God would hide those who seek Him and keep them from the evil one, giving His angels charge over them and restraining the work of the adversary.
We also hear your concern over injustice and the long wait for righteousness to prevail. Scripture encourages us not to fret because of evildoers or to envy the wicked, for there is no lasting reward for the evil person and those who do wrong will be cut off. God is the one who lifts up one and puts down another, and He will in His time replace what is corrupt and establish what is just. We can rest in His sovereignty even as we continue to pray without ceasing, trusting with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding, asking Him to lead leaders not into temptation but to deliver them from evil.
May the Lord grant to those who govern a love for wisdom above riches, for wisdom is better than rubies and nothing we desire can compare with it. May He give them a heart to receive His words and hide His commandments within, to love wisdom as a close companion and to call understanding a friend. And may He answer your prayers for peace, for salvation through Jesus Christ alone, for protection, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, and all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, from whose fullness we receive blessing upon blessing.
We will continue to pray with you that God would grant wisdom, godly counsel, unity for good, and a hatred of evil to all who lead, that they might fulfill His purposes in their generation, and that the peace of God would guard your own heart and mind in Christ Jesus as you intercede.
Scripture teaches that God ordained authority and that those who rule are accountable to Him. The instruction that a ruler should write for himself a copy of God's law and live by it points to the same truth that wisdom itself declares, that by wisdom kings reign and princes decree justice. When leaders incline their ear to wisdom and apply their heart to understanding, they are given counsel and strength to govern justly. We join you in asking that those who serve in national leadership, in courts, in defense and intelligence, and in every place of influence would be guided by the Word of God and by sound, godly counsel, for in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
At the heart of that prayer is the need for true wisdom. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. To fear Him is to turn away from pride and arrogance and every perverse way and to depart from evil. That departure is not only a moral choice but a protection, for when wisdom enters the heart and knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul, discretion preserves a person and understanding keeps him. This is the wisdom we should ask for on behalf of our leaders, not the wisdom that is earthly and self seeking, which breeds envy and strife and confusion and every evil work, but the wisdom that comes from above. That wisdom is first pure, then peaceable and gentle, willing to listen, full of mercy and good fruit. It is shown not by words alone but by a manner of life that seeks purity and peace. Human wisdom apart from God cannot find God and ends in foolishness, but God reveals Himself by His Spirit and gives wisdom liberally to those who ask.
With that wisdom comes deliverance and discernment. Understanding delivers from the way of the evil person, from those who leave upright paths to walk in darkness, who rejoice in doing wrong and delight in what is perverse, whose ways are crooked. It also delivers from flattering lips and deceitful speech, from imposters and those who claim to know God while denying His power. We join you in praying for protection from falsehood, from leaks and secret plans meant for harm, and from those who would use their position to mislead. Pray that those in authority would have eyes to see straight ahead, to ponder the path of their feet, to put away perverse speech and to remove their feet from evil, and to turn away from such people when they are exposed. The prudent person foresees evil and takes refuge, while the simple go on and suffer for it. Our refuge is in Christ, and we can ask that God would hide those who seek Him and keep them from the evil one, giving His angels charge over them and restraining the work of the adversary.
We also hear your concern over injustice and the long wait for righteousness to prevail. Scripture encourages us not to fret because of evildoers or to envy the wicked, for there is no lasting reward for the evil person and those who do wrong will be cut off. God is the one who lifts up one and puts down another, and He will in His time replace what is corrupt and establish what is just. We can rest in His sovereignty even as we continue to pray without ceasing, trusting with all our heart and not leaning on our own understanding, asking Him to lead leaders not into temptation but to deliver them from evil.
May the Lord grant to those who govern a love for wisdom above riches, for wisdom is better than rubies and nothing we desire can compare with it. May He give them a heart to receive His words and hide His commandments within, to love wisdom as a close companion and to call understanding a friend. And may He answer your prayers for peace, for salvation through Jesus Christ alone, for protection, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, and all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, from whose fullness we receive blessing upon blessing.
We will continue to pray with you that God would grant wisdom, godly counsel, unity for good, and a hatred of evil to all who lead, that they might fulfill His purposes in their generation, and that the peace of God would guard your own heart and mind in Christ Jesus as you intercede.
