Cast your vote and your prayers

Have you watched any of the debates for the Presidency?  There have been several now and I enjoy hearing the one I’d vote for and its interesting to hear what they would do if elected and how they’d lead. The election will be here before you know it too. Some Christians have become apathetic about it all, others have become cynical about politics and don’t vote or just aren’t that interested.  Yet the fact remains God has given us the great privilege of exercising a say so in our nation, unlike what Jesus’ disciples could in the first century when the church was starting.

Several years ago know I had the honor of meeting a sitting governor. Several of us local pastors had been invited to a dedication service in our area and Tom Ridge, who later went on to be Homeland Security head, was our governor.  After he finished his speech we had a chance to speak with him individually so I came prepared and as we spoke I let him know we prayed for him at our church and I handed him a gospel tract and asked him about his eternal destiny and urged him to read the pamphlet.  Our leaders need the encouragement from us that we care and are doing our part to help them to do theirs.

You may never get such an opportunity up close and personal but we ought to be engaged in the process at least spiritually. So let me remind you what Paul wrote to Timothy, “I exhort therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for ALL men: for KINGS and for ALL THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior Who will have ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim.2:1-4)

The verses teach our prayers for others, including our leaders, are to be varied (note the different types of words he uses for prayer). So this entails giving good thought to what they might be going through, learning about them and their needs, realizing they are (often unbeknownst to them) in a spiritual tussle with principalities and powers unseen and you going before the throne of grace for them. And of course being concerned about their spiritual standing as Paul included we are to pray with the goal that God wants ALL our leaders saved !

I’ve heard it mentioned often in sermons that Paul’s king at this time was an absolute maniac, Nero !  Yet the apostle urges his readers that even he was to prayed for.  Why not, those types especially need it, don’t they?  And it may just change their heart one day by YOUR prayers !  Daniel’s had an effect on wicked King Nebuchadnezzar as the once unsaved monarch stated, “NOW I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven. . . ” (Dan.4:37)     So YOUR prayers can make a difference in the state capitol too !  You may never get to chat with a US Senator but you can pray for him/her.   You might never take a stroll into the Oval Office but YOUR prayers can make a mark even there !!!  So get involved with the political process at least this way and make a difference for the Lord TODAY !!