Verse of the Day: Pray for your Leaders

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV)

As we gear up for Christian Finance Blog Inauguration Day tomorrow, today’s Bible verse is about praying for your leaders, including our President. Whether you voted for President Obama or not, God has placed him into his leadership position. This verse talks about praying for our leaders and everyone who is in authority. That means we should pray for our bosses, too!

From the Nelson Study Bible:

Therefore: Here Paul elaborates on what will build up the church (see 1:4). In these verses, Paul uses four of the seven New Testament terms for prayer. Supplications emphasizes personal need. The verb from which the noun is derived has the idea of “petition.”

Prayers is the general word for prayer. The term is always directed toward God with reverence or worship. Intercessions means “approaching with confidence,” suggesting free access to God.

Giving of thanks is an attitude of gratitude, the act of praising God for what He has done for us. Each of these aspects of prayer should be included in the prayer life of a church. For all men is the first object of prayer. This generic expression of male and female alike cannot be restricted to believers; it also includes nonbelievers, such as kings and all who are in authority.

Peaceable refers to internal composure or an amiable attitude. The idea of praying for kings has a twofold emphasis. First, it is a specific way to pray for all men, because the actions of a king affect society as a whole. Second, it reminds believers that God is the ultimate Sovereign. He is in control, and our prayer affect decisions at the highest level.