Praying the Scriptures: Prayers for the President

The Lord has recently been convicting me of a severe lack in my own life.

Lack of prayer for the President.

There are probably lots of factors contributing to this grave omission from my prayer life. But they don’t really amount to a single bit of difference.

I don’t want to soften the blow and call it an oversight. I don’t want to assuage the guilt and say it was unintentional.

I just want to repent.

“First of all, then, 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.”

I Timothy 2:1-2

I would imagine there’s at least one thing about our government that doesn’t thrill you. At least one thing you would change if you could.

Maybe you’ve considered lobbying. Maybe you’ve thought about a petition. Maybe you’ve called your congressmen and/or congresswomen.

But what could God do in five seconds that all the lobbying and petitioning in the world can never accomplish?

So let’s pray, my dear Christ-following friends. Let’s allow this month of Presidents’ Day to be the launchpad that drives us to our knees all year long. I invite you to join me in praying the Scriptures for our President.

Prayers for the President

1. Pray that he would develop a fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)

2. Beg God to draw him near to Himself; that if he isn’t a believer in Jesus Christ, that he would heed the Holy Spirit’s conviction, repenting, and placing his faith in Christ for salvation. (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16)

3. Ask God to grant him a love for the Bible and for prayer. (Psalm 119:97; Colossians 4:2)

4. Pray for an awareness that he is in office by God’s allowance, and that he therefore holds a sacred responsibility. (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1)

5. Ask that he would be surrounded by wise counselors. (Proverbs 20:18)

6. Ask that he would lead our country in a way that encourages and enables its citizens to find the fulfillment of honest labor. (Proverbs 13:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)

7. Pray that he would develop a heart for God’s glory to be made known in our country. (Psalm 96:3)

8. Ask God to help him make wise decisions, that God’s will might be fulfilled in our nation.(Psalm 32:8; Matthew 6:10)

9. Pray that in all things, personal and official, he would hate what is evil and cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)

10. Entreat God to move his heart to make God-honoring decisions based on truth, particularly in the areas of abortion, marriage, and protection of parental and religious freedoms. (I Corinthians 10:31)

11. Pray that his family life would be strong, protected from the stresses and temptations he faces. (Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians 6:4)

12. Ask that God would prompt more of His people to honor our President and to pray for him. (I Peter 2:17; I Timothy 2:1-2)

Let’s think about that final one for a moment before we close. “What if the President isn’t honorable?” you ask. “What if I don’t like him? What if I don’t agree with him?”

The book of I Peter, where we find the command to “honor the king,” was written during the reign of Nero, undoubtedly one of the most despicable leaders in the history of mankind, and one of the most anti-Christian.

Though we’re far from where our nation originated, we’re also far from Nero, friends. “Honor the king” is undoubtedly for us, too.

Let’s honor our God by cultivating a heart of prayer for our nation and for our President.

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Want to hang on to these prayers for the President? Click here for a free printable!