How does one live a “peaceful and quiet” life with so much turmoil, animosity, and hatred confronting us just about everywhere we turn nowadays?  I recognize that there are some who choose to be blissfully isolated or insulated from the events shaking up nations.  However, I don’t think that, as Christians, we should sequester ourselves or remain ignorant about the spiritual climate of our nation – or any other nation or people group, for that matter. …because, as the body of Christ when one member or one part of the body of Christ suffers, it affects everyone of us—whether we recognize it or not.

The apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, “First of all, then [interesting that he prioritized this!], 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, who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

I recognize that it is very difficult to pray for someone whom you adamantly disagree with, or harbor animosity and hatred towards; however, we are instructed to pray, intercede, and offer thanksgivings for all people, particularly those who are in positions of authority.  I’ve heard a lot of anger towards and cursing of politicians from people who are unyieldingly opposed to Christianity; and sadly, some who profess to be Christians also speak harsh judgments and curses over political opponents.

Several thoughts come to mind:

“But I say to you who hear [pretty important to be listening!], Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28) – Now I can imagine that not many of us experience focused hatred (though I know some do), yet we may quite willingly express hatred (by our judgments and criticisms) towards those we disagree with.  However, Jesus tells us to love.

And not many people curse us (but some do), yet I’ve witnessed in this hostile political climate many Christians who are inclined to curse those who embrace wickedness and evil, forgetting that God, our Savior desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, a city and culture known for its opposition to and torture of Christians, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Romans 12:14) …and a few verses later, he instructs, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Romans 13:1-2)

In those instances where a nation’s laws and government oppose God and His Word, we have this principle spoken by the apostle Peter and the others when confronted for civil disobedience (teaching in the name of Jesus), “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) What I don’t see in apostles’ response is a sense of self-righteousness, an attitude of moral superiority, words of ridicule and condemnation, or an underlying hatred for those opposing them.

I write about spiritual warfare quite a bit because I recognize that it is easy to see people as “the enemy” rather than identifying the forces at work behind the scenes.  It is easy to lose any sort of inner peace we may be experiencing when the media promotes bias, dissention, anarchy, and hatred.  In such a hostile atmosphere, it is important to remember this: “…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. (1 John 4:3-5) We must remember that, with God in us, we are victors, not victims!

And…

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. …and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Ephesians 6:12, 17-18)

We need to pray!  And scripture based, focused prayer is amazing because we are praying God’s very own words back to Him.  Here are some scriptures that I have chosen to pray for our country and its leaders, because I want to live a peaceful and quiet life:

• “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

I pray that the hand of the Lord would turn the heart of our president, and the hearts of all those in government towards truth, righteousness, and justice.

• “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.” (Proverbs 2:6-15)

My prayer is that the Father would give wisdom to our president, and that God would speak knowledge and understanding into the hearts and minds of those with leadership responsibilities within our government.  May He encourage the souls of our leaders and representatives to live and to govern with integrity, even when that is the most challenging path to take.  May they guard the paths of justice, protecting the citizens and promoting righteousness and equity.  Deliver those who seek to honor God from men and women of perverted speech, who forsake what is right and choose the ways of darkness, who delight in perversity, and who are devious in their ways.

• “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!  Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:7-9)

It is so easy to become emotionally engaged with what seems to be a hysteria of evil being promoted through the media and through the statements of quite a few politicians.  Yet our Lord instructs us to Be Still—and it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit would lead my heart, as well as the hearts and minds of all of God’s people, His church, into confident stillness in His presence.  I pray for help in averting my eyes and my ears from the things that destroy stillness and seek His help to avoid fretting over what the enemy may think are victories for his side.  Fretting, anger, wrath are all demonic characteristics, and if we allow them a place in our souls, we will become like the evil we despise.  May we, by God’s grace, confidently wait for the Lord, knowing and praising Him that we have His assurance that we will inherit the land!

• “Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!  As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! (Psalm 140:8-9)

I repent for allowing myself to get worked up about political situations without going to God in prayer, interceding for our leaders, particularly the ones who are not saved, that they will hear the gospel and receive Jesus as, not only their Savior, but also their Lord.  In the cases where people harden their hearts to the grace of God, I pray that God would commission His agents to deny the desires of the wicked and frustrate their evil plots.  …praying that the lies and the mischief their minds conceive, and their lips proclaim would overwhelm them instead.

There are many other relevant scriptures to pray for our country, and others!  A concordance and a little time can help us to find them.  Besides the news media giving unreliable reports, I also have friends posting on social media opinions and memes that communicate bias and partial truth.  I recognize the enemy’s ploy to bring about division, raise ire, and ignite frustration.  These are opportunities to participate in the power and privilege of prayer!

“In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression,

for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you

shall fall because of you…

…no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord

and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” 

(Isaiah 54:14-15, 17)