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. 1 Timothy 2:1–3 (NLT)
Canadians are loved worldwide. In fact, one T-shirt company actually sells a package for those who want to “go Canadian” when travelling abroad. The package includes a Canadian flag T-shirt, luggage patch and a quick reference guide on “how to speak Canadian, eh!”
I’m proud to call myself a Canadian, but I don’t always agree with everything our leaders do. No matter what country you’re from, I’m sure you can relate. Regardless, we can still be thankful for our leaders.
Actually, God wants us to take it a step further and pray for them, too.
In 1 Timothy 2:1–4, Paul gives instructions on how to treat our leaders. Keep in mind: Paul wrote this when the Romans occupied Israel. I’m sure he didn’t agree with the oppressive nature of the rule, yet he instructed Christians to pray and give thanks for them.
Now, he wasn’t saying we should just roll over and allow our leaders to do whatever they want, but he was confronting how we go about it. We can find ways to challenge our leaders and the laws they are creating while showing them respect. When we show respect, we act with humility. We open ourselves up to learn from others and have a much better chance of having our concerns heard.
In a world that seems to attack the person rather than the issue, let’s keep the focus where it needs to be. As you pray for your leaders, Holy Spirit will also give you wisdom for what action to take.