Why We Should Pray For Those In Authority

How should we handle difficult encounters with people who are in positions of authority? Steph Nickel encourages us to pray for those in authority, and to teach our children to do the same.

How Do We Treat Those In Authority?

I Timothy 2:1-3 says, 

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”

I Timothy 2:1-3

What kind of an example are we setting for our children in this area?

How to we talk about our boss when we come home from a stressful day at work?

What do our children hear when we’re speaking about the police officer who gave us a ticket for running a yellow light?

How does the conversation go when our country is in the midst of a federal election?

How do we react when we feel our children have been treated badly by their teacher?

What do we say about our pastor and other church leaders on our way home from Sunday service?

Pray For Those In Authority

I admit that I have often spoken harshly about those in authority. Even now, I don’t pray for them as I ought. Are there times an employer is unreasonable, a police officer oversteps their authority, a teacher treats a child badly? Absolutely.

What should we do in each case? Well, if we begin by praying for the individual in question—that God would be at work in their life, not that He would punish them for their bad behaviour—it’s a good place to start.

There are times we must speak up, but if we pray for wisdom and direction, we can rest assured that the Lord will instruct us how to do so in a way that honours Him.

Let’s consider the above scenarios.

How Should We React To Negative Situations?

Let’s face it, our boss is human, and there are sure to be challenging things going on in their life that we know nothing about. Is it right for them to take it out on their staff? No, but sometimes it happens. Our responsibility is to do the best job we can despite the negative atmosphere.

And if we have broken the law and committed a moving violation, it’s best to take a deep breath and admit that we actually deserve that ticket.

Authorities and Elections

Many countries hold federal elections. This should send us to our knees, asking God to raise up the men and women of His choosing. We also ought to do our research so we can vote responsibly. We can discuss the issues without maligning the candidates, though sometimes we may find this particularly challenging.

Of course, we must speak up if our children—or others—are being unfairly treated in the classroom. The best way to go about it is to approach their teacher with respect and talk things through. If there are serious issues the teacher seems unwilling to address, it may become necessary to ask that our child be transferred to another class or we may need to speak to the principal about the situation.

And lastly, how should we respond when a church leader says or does something that frustrates, angers, or annoys us? Well, first we must ask ourselves if they’ve truly done or said something that clearly violates God’s Word. It may simply be a personality clash and this happens within the church as much as it does anywhere else.

Addressing Fellow Christians

When it comes to resolving issues with our fellow Christians, the Lord has laid out clear guidelines in Matthew 18:15-21. And in the case of a church leader, we ought to go to others in leadership if the situation deems it necessary.

But we ought never to speak harshly about our leaders, especially when our children are listening. Even when it’s appropriate to speak up respectfully, will there be times the individual in question will stand firm and refuse to back down? Of course.

What should we do in that case? First, we should continue to pray. No situation—no heart—is too difficult for God to change. But even if no change is evident, we must continue to pray and we may need to continue to speak up on the part of the wronged party. If and how we should do so is another matter for prayer. We may also want to seek godly counsel on this issue.

What If We Are In A Position Of Authority ?

And how should we approach things if we’re the one in a position of authority. What kind of leader are we? Are we concerned for those over whom we have authority or do we know virtually nothing about them? Are we approachable or do we keep our distance? Do we seek to come alongside others or do we lord it over them? Do we pray for those we lead? Do we seek to be people of integrity in every area of life? Do we reflect Jesus’ humble, selfless character?

As in any other area, our children will learn more from our example than they do from our words. May we make it a habit as a family to pray for those in authority and discuss godly ways to handle negative situations.

Is it difficult to pray for those in authority? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.