Praying for our Leaders

August 1, 2024 / by Pastor Traig Whittaker

Paul urges believers to pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:2)

Here’s a little context for Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul gave this encouragement while Nero reigned in Rome. He was known for violent persecution of Christians. Trying to find a Christian in a “high position” would have been nearly impossible. I’m not sure that there were any in the first century. Even so, Paul was telling them to pray for these pagan leaders.

Let’s pray for the leaders that we suffer under and those with which we do not agree and those whose lifestyle is an abomination. What should we pray? Paul is kind enough to answer that question for us. At least one goal of our prayer ought to be that we be governed in such a way as to promote the peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified living of Christians.

Peaceful and quiet—the absence of assault or attack from an outside source. Godly and dignified—able to live according to God’s rule and command including worship. We are gonna pray that they would leave us alone.

There is also a second goal for our praying. We should pray that those in “high positions” might be saved. Paul says pray for “all people to be saved” (v. 4). If this prayer is effective, it will certainly go a long way toward securing what we pray for in our first prayer goal. This prayer is also likely to soften our hearts for leaders who lead out of their lostness. Instead of getting mad and railing against them we must pity them. It’s much harder to hate someone when you are praying for them.

Whatever the outcome of the November election let’s commit ourselves to praying for those chosen to govern us.

Pastor Traig Whittaker has served at East White Oak since 2000. His ministry responsibilities include oversight of the church’s Christian Education programs and administrative duties. Traig is married to Laura and they have four adult children.