Politics. Is anyone sick of it yet? I know that it can get sticky even in local races, but the national political scene is always a huge dramatic presentation. I, for one, am sick of it.
You know the story. It is the same one every four years. Trump said this. Clinton did that. Trump lied. Clinton is a criminal. On and on the story goes. Each election year the stories are the same, the names just change. Oh, and in this modern technological age of live televised debates, another factor is in the mix: the moderators. One candidate does not like the moderator for one of the debates. The other candidate does not like the moderator for the next debate. The candidates – or their surrogates – sense that the moderators are biased toward one side or the other. And that surprises you? They are human beings with human thoughts and logic. They cannot help but be biased. There is no way that anyone in any one of those debate rooms is not biased toward one candidate or the other. On and on it goes. When will it ever stop?
One of the greatest challenges issued to believers is to pray. But do you pray like your prayers make a difference? For many years, Patrick thought prayer was a good idea. He even bought books on prayer. But prayer was not a priority to him. Ironically, Patrick had just been appointed chairman of his church’s missions committee, which to him meant running the organization like a business. Until he met Tim.
Tim was a missionary from China who was home on furlough after an emotionally and spiritually draining time in the mission field. Tim came to Patrick’s first missions committee meeting in order to report on his ministry. Tim opened his report with these remarks:
“Without the faithful prayers of this committee and its chairman, I would not be here today. Many times, my wife and I were on the verge of quitting, leaving China behind in the ruin of our failed attempts to share the gospel with those precious people. But just when we started to pack, we remembered all the folks back home who promised to pray for us. Patrick, I’d like to thank you and your committee for your faithfulness in prayer.”
Patrick sunk in his seat as he mumbled, “You’re welcome Tim.”
Later, Patrick had this conversation with God: “Lord, I’m sorry for being so slack. If I had taken the time to pray for Tim and his wife they would have been spared a lot of grief. I commit myself to a renewed prayer life, with your help.”
On a sign in front of Patrick’s church was this message: “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” Your lack of prayer not only weakens your life, it affects others as well. Who needs your help today? Pray.
As true believers we are not told to put our trust in rulers; we are told to pray for them. In the Bible in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we read these words: “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. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
One of the first observations to make in reading these verses is the broad scope of our prayer life for our leaders. Four different words are used to describe how we are to pray for them. In other words, our prayer life for our leaders should be comprehensive. We should be praying for them in every way, in every area of their lives possible; not only for their politics, but for their families, for their finances, for their relationships, for every aspect of their lives. But notice that our confidence is not in those we are praying for. Our confidence is in the One we are praying to. Our trust is to be in the Lord. Politicians are not the answer to our problems. Jesus is the answer.
Also notice what we are to be praying for: “That we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Instead of praying for specific candidates to win, we are to pray that God will lead our nation to elect whichever individual will enable us to live peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified lives.
Men who feared God established the United States. They knew that any drift from trusting in Him would lead to ruin. The people came in droves from all parts of the world in order to worship God as they saw fit. Listen in on the conversation of one of the early unnamed pilgrims as he prayed to God: “Almighty God, You know how hard this new land is for us. At any moment the King of England could cut off his support and leave us to starve. Lord, work in his heart and move him to grant us favor. The freedom to worship You in this new land has been so rich. Touch the king’s heart in a way that will forever secure our ability to worship You in openness. The memories of spiritual slavery to the Church of England and the persecution for resisting their wishes is still very fresh in my mind. Forever burn the memories on my heart so that I will never take for granted my freedoms. May You grace our governor with Your wisdom. Grant him courage to lead us down the right path and may Your compassion fill his heart.”
Prayers like these proved to be the source of God’s blessing of America. Prayer and peace go hand in hand. Are your prayers making an impact on your leaders, your nation?
God bless…
Chuck Tabor is a religion columnist for The Times-Gazette. He also serves as pastor of Port William UMC.
