PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THIS PETITION !

1 Timothy 2:1-15

A Call to Prayer

2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷ For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸ Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

This brief passage from today's reading in the One Year Bible holds an important message for believers today. When we look at the situation that exists in politics from the local level to the national level and even throughout the world it's easy to be dissatisfied, in fact we should be.  I believe that as Christians we should be aware of and participate in the political process by voting and even letting our elected officials know that we expect them to do what's right. We should let our voice be heard. Far too much ground has been given up because good people failed to speak.

We should not however become so involved in the world system of politics that we forget or neglect to engage the enemy in our true realm of authority, prayer and spiritual warfare. It's easy to become involved in signing this petition or the next petition. Paul exhorts us to make entreaties and petitions to God on behalf of " all men, kings and all who are in authority. All is fairly clear. We are to pray for all in authority. The first thing we should pray for is for their salvation, that they would come to a knowledge and understanding that Jesus Christ is their Lord and savior. The political stuff will take care of itself if leaders every where have a personal encounter with Christ. We need to remember,  even when we are talking about the most evil or misguided leaders , our true battle in the spiritual realm not with men and women.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 When we engage in the battle in the earthly realm, through the political system, the court system  or through media our results are limited to the ability and authority we have there. Again that's not to say we should not participate and be engaged. We just need to remember where our greatest authority and ability to change things lies.

2 Corinthians 10:  ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, ⁴ for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

Do we want the results of our efforts to be based in our strength, ability and authority or in divine authority and ability?

We have a choice to make as we look around and see the growing darkness in the world. We can say that it is getting really dark and continue to speak of the evil and the fallen condition of our leaders, or we can look at the darkness and then look to heaven and say let there be light. We can try to changes things by signing petitions or by raising them.

John 8:12

Jesus Is the Light of the World

¹² Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

This world needs light. This world needs Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit this world seems to be getting darker each day. Forgive me for seeing more of the darkness than Your light. I pray for all leaders every where, that you would bless them and reveal yourself to them. Lord You have turned the hearts of rulers toward You throughout history, I pray that You do it now as well. I pray that leaders ,from the lowest local levels, school boards, town councils to the highest national and world leaders , that ALL leaders every where would have an encounter with You, that they would have an experience like Paul on the Damascus road, "suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him "(Acts 9:3), that they would be changed as he was changed. Jesus You are the light of the world. I pray for a revelation of that light for leaders every where. I declare the light and the truth of your word, binding up darkness and loosing light. Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Thy will be done. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Revelation 21 describes the future kingdom of heaven on earth.

23And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.… Amen