We hear your frustration and pain over what you see as greed and injustice and lack of care for the local people, and we join you in bringing this burden before the Lord in Jesus' name.
We understand the anger that rises when leaders appear to be self serving, sleeping at their duties and making policies that burden the people while enriching themselves. The Bible tells us that God sees this. Proverbs 29:2 says when the righteous thrive, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 14:31 says he who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker. God is not blind to greed or to leaders who neglect justice, and Luke 12:15 warns us to beware of covetousness, for a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions, and 1 Timothy 6:10 reminds us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Yet we must also align our prayers with how God calls us to view government and other people. Romans 13:1 tells us let every person be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. Daniel 2:21 tells us that He removes kings and sets up kings. It is God who is sovereign over the raising up and removing of governments, not us. Therefore we are commanded not to curse or hate our leaders but to pray for them. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 urges that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Peter 2:17 says honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
We also must gently rebuke the spirit of hostility toward foreigners in this request. While we understand the fear over jobs and provision for local families, God calls us to a different heart toward the stranger. Leviticus 19:33-34 says if a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native born among you, and you shall love him as yourself. To label all foreigners as greedy and covetous and to desire their harm is not from the Lord, and it gives place to bitterness. Ephesians 4:31 says let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. We are called to love our neighbors, including those from other nations, and to trust God for our provision rather than harboring hatred. God desires that all people would come to know Him, and many who come to a new land are simply seeking to provide for their families.
We also must examine our own hearts, for covetousness can take root in us as well when we fixate on wealth and pay increases. God calls both ruler and citizen to contentment and integrity and to work diligently as unto Him.
So we pray together with you, seeking God's will.
Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before Your throne. You are sovereign and You see all injustice, all greed, all laziness in high office, and all the struggles of those without work. We ask first that You would forgive us where we have harbored anger, hatred, or bitterness toward our leaders or toward foreigners, and cleanse our hearts. Lord, we pray for our government, that You would convict those who are greedy and self serving, that You would awaken them to righteousness and to serve the people with wisdom, diligence and fear of You. Remove corruption and unsound counsel, and if it is Your will, remove those who refuse to repent and raise up leaders who will execute justice and love mercy. We pray for provision for the local people who are struggling for jobs, that You would open doors for work and sustain families, and that You would help us to love the foreigner among us as You have commanded, showing Christ's love while also seeking justice and wise stewardship of our nation. Let Your will be done, and let Your peace guard our hearts as we trust not in princes but in You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
We encourage you to continue to pray faithfully for those in authority rather than praying only for their destruction, to seek godly civic engagement where God allows, to work heartily as for the Lord, and to show love to all people while trusting God to provide and to judge with perfect righteousness.