“I exhort, therefore, first or all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for the kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.” I Timothy 2:1, 2

Every Christian who takes his profession seriously knows the importance of prayer. There is a verse of a song we occasionally sing in worship which puts it this way:

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, The Christian’s native air, His watchword at the gates of death; He enters heaven with prayer.

Prayer is the lifeline between ourselves and our heavenly Father, through which we communicate with Him, bringing praise and thanksgiving, as well as many a petition. If our prayer life suffers, our whole spiritual life is affected.

Prayer is not only our “watchword at the gates of death,” it is also of paramount importance on the pathway of life. No one who takes seriously his relationship with God makes light of prayer, but frequently finds himself joining the disciples of Jesus in the request: Lord, teach us how to pray!

The apostle Paul urges Timothy in the text referred to above to pray for those who are in positions of authority in government. There is no doubt but that that should be an important part of our daily prayer life. Most of us will have to admit, I suspect, that we do not pray often enough for those who have been elected to public office. When is the last time your personally prayed for the President, for Congressmen, for the Governor of your state, for local government leaders? And when is the last time you complained about how poorly they were doing their job?

Those of you who live in the States know that we have just celebrated a milestone in our nation‘s history. We have now stepped into the third century of nationhood. Whether or not you are a citizen of the United States, you will agree, I trust, that one of the most important things you can do as a Christian  citizen, wherever you live, is to pray for those who provide the leadership.

Prayer for the nation‘s leaders is not just a privilege. but a duty. And it ought not to be restricted to a National Day of Prayer. But daily, in our personal prayers, there ought to be “supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings . . . for kings and all that are in high place.” Their need is great and their responsibility weighty; and we who confess faith in the Sovereign God who rules all through King Jesus ought to be praying daily for wisdom and understanding on their behalf.

Recently a national magazine carried a forty-four page supplement in recognition of the Bicentennial. in which attempts were made to look ahead and make projections about America’s third century. As I scanned that special section, though it was very interesting indeed, there was little reference to the part faith and religion would play in shaping the future. Apart from one column written by a church historian, this was the only other reference to it that I could find: “What role religion plays is far from clear. Recent years have seen a rebound in religious interest, especially among the young and especially involving evangelical denominations.”

Perhaps for most people, the role that religion will play in the future is unclear. In the religiously confused times in which we live, that should not be surprising. But if this writer‘s judgment is correct, that there is a rebound in religious interest, especially among evangelical denominations, then we have reason to be encouraged. What a tremendous challenge there is facing us as God’s people, to so let our lives be shaped by the Word of God that others are influenced by us. And equally as important, what a challenge to be praying on behalf of those whose weighty task it is to give leadership to a nation and her people.

Is the past always prologue to the future? If so, then we will continue to reap the devastating effects of sin throughout however many centuries are still ahead in time. But we will also move forward by the grace of God with the glorious message of redemption in Jesus Christ, until such time when all human governments shall end, and Jesus Christ shall be all in all. Then will be introduced a future for which there has been no prologue, far more glorious than our finest thoughts are capable of imagining. Until then, let us be citizens who pray.

O Thou by whom we come to God, The life, the truth, the way, The path of prayer Thyself hast trod: Lord, teach us how to pray.