5 Scriptures to Pray over Our Leaders This President’s Day
Prayer
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By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com
The President’s Day holiday is an important time to pray for our government leaders – not just our president, but all the people who work in leadership positions at every level of government – national, state, and local – throughout the United States. It’s easy to pray for leaders we admire or agree with. It’s much harder to pray for leaders who frustrate us, disappoint us, or make decisions we don’t understand. Yet, the Bible is clear that God calls us to pray for all our leaders, whether or not they share our values or earn our approval. Presidents, administration and department leaders, legislators like members of Congress and state assemblies, judges, governors, mayors, school boards, county and city councils, and more all make leadership decisions that affect our communities in ways we see every day. We need to pray for them.
When we pray for our leaders, we’re not saying we endorse every policy or decision they make. We’re also not giving up our responsibility to think critically, vote wisely, or speak up when we see leaders make decisions we think are wrong. But whether or not we support the people in charge, they’re leading us, and they need God’s help every day to do so well.
Praying for leaders not only helps them do their jobs better, but it also helps us by reminding us that God will send wisdom to our leaders and help them learn and grow in the process.
This President’s Day, let’s commit to praying for those who lead us throughout our nation. Here are 5 scriptures to pray over our leaders this President’s Day, along with reflections on what they mean and sample prayers to use.
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1. James 1:5
Pray for God to give wisdom to our leaders: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5
When we look at the scale of the problems our leaders face, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed on their behalf. From economic shifts and international diplomacy to local infrastructure and education, the right answer isn’t always obvious. In fact, many leaders are forced to choose between two difficult options, neither of which is perfect. This is why our first and most frequent prayer should be for wisdom. Biblical wisdom is the ability to see situations from God’s perspective and to apply God’s truth to make the best decisions. By praying for God to give our leaders his wisdom, we can help our leaders figure out what’s really true and what’s most important. We want them to have the kind of wisdom that leads all people to thrive (not just a select few). When we pray for a leader we disagree with, it changes our perspective. Instead of just hoping they fail so our “side” can win, we’re asking God to guide them so that as many of our fellow citizens as possible can succeed.
Pray: “Dear God, we lift up our president, our legislators, our judges, our governors, and all the leaders throughout our country to you today. They’re dealing with many important responsibilities. Human logic is often not enough to solve the challenging problems they face. So, please give them your wisdom so they can make the best decisions while they work. Open their eyes to see the long-term consequences of their choices. Motivate them to try to do what’s best for as many people as possible. Help them to seek the truth, focus on the most important priorities, and listen to wise advice. Even if they don’t know you yet through a personal relationship with you, please direct their thoughts toward your wisdom. Thank you, God. Amen.”
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2. Mark 10:45
Pray for our leaders to be motivated by service: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45
In our modern political culture, leadership is often associated with power, prestige, and winning fights to carry out agendas. It’s easy for anyone in a position of authority to start believing the position is about their own career or legacy. But Jesus taught us that the greatest motivation to do anything is to serve God. When we pray Mark 10:45 over our leaders, we’re asking God to give them a “servant’s heart.” Imagine how much positive change could happen in our nation, states, and communities if every leader viewed themselves primarily as a servant of the people they represent. Servant leadership requires humility because it involves putting the needs of vulnerable people above the interests of powerful people. We can pray that our leaders would be moved by compassion. We want them to see the faces of the families struggling with rising costs, the students in underfunded schools, and the elderly who feel forgotten. When leaders are motivated by service, they become less concerned with their own interests and more concerned with the common good.
Pray: “Dear God, thank you for the example of your Son, Jesus, who showed us that true power is found in service. Please motivate our leaders to embrace this same spirit. Help them to overcome their pride and desire for personal gain. Give them a deep sense of duty and a genuine love for the people they serve. May they be leaders who look out for the citizens who are counting on them for help. Please give them compassion for people in need and a passion to serve them. Thank you, God. Amen.”
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3. Proverbs 11:3
Pray for our leaders to have integrity: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3
Trust is the foundation of leadership, and yet it often feels like our leaders aren’t trustworthy. A leader with integrity is an honest person who speaks and acts with the same good character in a private meeting as on a public stage. He or she is guided by a moral compass rather than by public opinion. This verse from Proverbs tells us that integrity actually serves as a guide. When leaders commit to being upright, many of their decisions become clearer because they’ve already decided they won’t lie, cheat, or take unethical shortcuts. On the flip side, “duplicity” (which means trying to play both sides) eventually leads to a leader’s downfall and harms the people they lead. As we pray for integrity, we’re asking God to protect our leaders from the temptations of sin, and to help them value their character more than their political agendas or their reelection.
Pray: “Dear God, please surround our leaders with a hedge of integrity. In this fallen world that often rewards dishonesty, give them the courage to speak the truth in love even when doing so is costly. Please help all of our leaders throughout our country learn how to live with integrity and choose to be honest day by day. When they’re tempted to compromise their character for a temporary advantage, remind them of the value of living upright lives. Thank you, God. Amen.”
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4. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Pray for our leaders to work for peace: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
The goal these Bible verses mention for praying for our leaders is specific: “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives.” This reminds us that the main function of government is to maintain order and peace so that society can function well and people can do what matters most – grow closer to God by pursuing holiness – without being distracted by worrying about society falling apart. If our nation, state, or community is in turmoil, it’s hard for people to grow spiritually the way God would like us to grow. When we pray for our leaders to work for peace, we pray against chaos and division. It’s important to share God’s peace in this violent and hurting world. The decisions made by leaders throughout our nation can directly impact the peace and quiet we can experience in our own lives.
Pray: “Dear God, we ask for your peace to prevail in our lives. Please help our leaders by giving them the desire and ability to unify us. In places where there are lots of divisions, please use our leaders to build bridges between citizens to help us all learn to work together well. We pray against the fear and hostility that too often takes away the peace you want us to enjoy together. May the decisions that people in authority make lead us to a safe and stable society that blesses every single one of our citizens. Help us, as citizens, to be people of peace as well, learning how to listen to each other and learn from each other, even when we disagree. Thank you, God. Amen.”
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5. Proverbs 31:8-9
Pray for our leaders to work for justice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9
The Bible consistently calls leaders to care for society’s most vulnerable people. Our leaders have powerful platforms to speak up against injustice and for the poor and needy, who don’t have much power themselves. It’s easy for people in high positions (who are often surrounded by lobbyists, donors, and other powerful figures) to become insulated from the struggles that poor and needy people are going through. We need to pray that God would break through that bubble and move our leaders to action when they see injustice happening. We want them to use their power to do whatever they can to stop injustices like poverty, human trafficking, unfair legal practices, public health issues, etc. Praying for justice involves asking God to help our leaders put God’s love into action through the decisions they make for the people they serve.
Pray: “Dear God, you’re the defender of all vulnerable people and the ultimate judge of everyone on the earth. Please inspire and motivate our leaders to seek justice. Give them a special concern for those who are easily overlooked. When they draft laws and set policies, help them to be champions of especially vulnerable people, such as poor people, victims of crimes, refugees, sick people, unborn children, and more. Give them the courage to stand up against injustice and to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. May our leaders be known for their fairness and compassion for those in need. Thank you, God. Amen.”
In conclusion, as we reflect on these Scriptures this President’s Day, let’s remember that our prayers are a powerful way to participate in what God is doing in our world. We can trust God to help our nation, state, and local community by helping our leaders with what they need to serve well.
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