Theme: power of Jesus when He is lifted up in our prayers for the UK.
How do you feel when the media bombards you with yet more news about people exposed for wrongdoing, disasters, riots, shootings etc. in our national life? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by it all, helpless to do anything about it, fearful of where it is all going and bewildered as to how to pray about any of it?
What help does the Bible give us?
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I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For,
There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. – 1 Timothy 2:1-6
Paul tells Timothy to pray for ALL people (even the ones you don’t like) and especially those in authority. We’re to ask God to help them, to intercede for them and to give thanks (despite the flaws in our system of government, we have much to give thanks for when we see rulers bringing chaos or oppression elsewhere in the world).
Paul gives 3 reasons :-
- So we can live quiet and peaceful lives.
- Because it pleases God.
- God wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth. That’s why Jesus came.
The starting point for our prayers is to realise how much God cares for us.
Ask Yourself
How much do I care? Our first prayer might be that God touches our hearts with his compassion.
As God’s people we need to have a right perspective as we look at events.
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The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth. – Psalm 11:3-4
David was surrounded by panicking people (v3), but he stands firm in his belief that God is still ruling. We too need to pray in faith not fear, knowing that God is in control.
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The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
and thwarts all their schemes.
But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken. – Psalm 33:10-11
Human rulers may have evil plans but these are no hindrance to God’s stated purpose for this world – “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”(Philippians 2:10). Our prayers are to be an expression of our trust in God’s unshakeable purposes, even when we don’t know how he will bring them about. God has chosen to use our prayers to work with him in bringing heaven to earth!
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Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. – Zechariah 4:6
We see displays of human might and power and the mess they can bring. But thank God he is at work by his Spirit throughout this nation, even in what seem to be the most hopeless situations.
Go Deeper
Using 1 Timothy 2: 1 – 6 let’s pray for those in authority in our land. Choose one of the 4 areas below and spend some time asking God for His heart, listening for what or whom He may be pointing us to pray for. Maybe the Holy Spirit gives us words, pictures or a sense of something specific. Perhaps we need to repent ourselves or on others’ behalf or declare the name of Jesus over a situation, using the Scriptures above. God’s heart is for us to join with Him to see His kingdom come.
- Royal family
- The government eg PM, Cabinet, party in power making decisions
- The opposition /Lords often challenging government, holding to account
- Local government bodies of various kinds
Keep praying and let’s look out for what God is doing!
