Is it as hard for you as it is for me to pray for others, particularly leaders and other authority figures? I confess that is often an experiment in exasperation for me as so many, if not most leaders of state and nation are not commendable people. And yet God calls us to do this very thing, regardless of how we feel about them. Only by the indwelling Spirit can we pray in love and compassion for all these people without becoming irritated with them. And when we do, God Himself will give us such peace and contentment in our life, with godliness and reverence that everything these people may or may not do to our benefit can be dealt with according to His grace. And God says this is good and acceptable in His sight.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”