The Lord calls for us to pray for everyone, including those in positions of authority.
“First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” ~1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB
Types of Prayer
The Apostle Paul encouraged us to pray for everyone through entreaties, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving.
Entreaties – to make an earnest request.
“So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.” ~2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP
“So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior – a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.” ~Ephesians 4:1-2 AMP
“For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.” ~Colossians 1:9-14 WEB
Prayers – to address the Supreme Being with reverence, adoration, confessing sins, supplication for mercy, and thanksgiving for blessings received.
Scriptures from the Old Testament
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.” ~1 Chronicles 16:11 NASB
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” ~2 Chronicles 7:14 WEB
“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.” ~Psalm 18:6 ESV
Scriptures from the New Testament
“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened.” ~Matthew 7:7 WEB
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” ~Philippians 4:6-7 AMP
“Let us fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good tome for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” ~Hebrews 4:16 AMPC
And when we do not know how to pray, the Spirit of God helps us.
“So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings to deep for utterance.” ~Romans 8:26 AMPC
Petitions – a prayer addressed to God for specific needs or desires.
“I [Jesus] do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You [Father] keep them and protect them from the evil one.” ~John 17:15 AMP
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” ~Ephesians 3:14-19 NASB
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” ~2 Timothy 1:7 AMP
Thanksgivings – expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” ~Psalm 100:4 NIV
“Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.” ~Colossians 4:2 AMP
“Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 AMP
Reasons Given for Prayer
Paul further encourages us to pray for those in positions of authority so that we may experience peace by living tranquil, quiet, dignified lives of godliness.
Tranquil – calm; undisturbed, peaceful, not agitated.
“You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. In Your right hand there are pleasures forever more.” ~Psalm 16:11 WEB
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me [Jesus]; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” ~John 14:21 NASB
“Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.” ~Colossians 3:1-3 AMP
Quiet – being in a state of rest, not turbulent, unruffled, stillness, rest, and freedom from disturbance or alarm.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” ~Micah 6:8 ESV
“But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” ~1 Timothy 1:5 AMP
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” ~James 1:19 NIV
“Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” ~1 Peter 3:3-4 WEB
Godliness – belief in God and reverence for His character and laws.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [and longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” ~Romans 12:1-2 AMP
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” ~Romans 14:17 ESV
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” ~Titus 3:4-7 NASB
“Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, seeing that His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue, by which He has granted to us His precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge’ and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~2 Peter 1:2-8 WEB
“There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [as not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. We love, because He first loved us.” ~1 John 4:18 AMP
Dignity – true honor or degree of excellence; nobleness of mind, consisting of a high sense of decency, truth and justice; and an abhorrence of mean and sinful actions.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.” ~Proverbs 31:25 WEB
“Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” Colossians 3:12-16 WEB
“And whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” ~Colossians 3:23-24 WEB
“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” ~1 Timothy 4:11 NASB
Let us cultivate faithfulness by praying for everyone, including those in positions of authority.
Recommendations
Praying for the Nations – Strength with Dignity
How to Persevere in Prayer in Today’s World – Strength with Dignity
References
100 Bible Verses about the Importance of Prayer. Published by Open Bible. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from What Does the Bible Say About The Importance Of Prayer?
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV text edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://webstersdictionary1828.com
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
7 thoughts on “Pray for Everyone, Including Those in Authority”
Lisa, I so appreciated reading your post this morning. Yesterday my parents and I went to our town hall to vote early. On the way out my dad said, “Now all that’s left for us to do is pray.” And it is so true.
Prayer makes a huge difference, Joanne!
Thank you for taking us step by step through this passage and unfolding its meaning. It’s an easy passage to sail through because it’s so familiar. But it’s good to stop and mediate on all its parts.
God has us on the same wave length this week. 🙂 I wrote from the same passage.
Yes, I noticed that, Barbara! And I appreciated your development on the governmental side of things.
Yes! Our prayers for those in authority will help to keep us in that unagitated space. So grateful for the One who is over all authorities!
He is Sovereign, Michele!
Romans 8:26 – I am so glad that God interprets the cry of my heart and the intent of my prayers when my words are insufficient to express what I am trying to pray – and that he knows the true cry of my heart. Our leaders do so need these prayers in so many ways! Thank you for compiling such a good guiding list of scripture to pray.