FIRST THINGS FIRST

I'm sure every praying person prays for our country even if it's only to breathe a prayer now and then. But does Scripture give us any admonitions about praying for our leaders?

Romans 13:1b(KJV) says, "(T)he powers that be are ordained of God." I like the Living New Testament Version: "There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power." Wow! That takes care of last November's election, doesn't it?

OK. Now that we've established that God has placed our political leaders in power, can we find any instructions about praying for them? How about I Timothy 2:1,2? I like Beck's translation of this passage. "I urge you, as MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, to ask, pray, plead, and give thanks for all people, for kings and all who are over us," -- why? "that we may live quietly and peacefully and be godly and noble in every way."

But the King James Version of this Scripture (as well as many other versions) inserts the three little, but very important words: "FIRST OF ALL."

Whoa! How many of us make this our first consideration of prayer? Our priority in prayer? Our number one concern in prayer?

My husband and I were discussing this after our prayer time last night and agreed that we needed to change the order of our prayers. In the past we have relegated praying for our country and our leaders to the close of our prayer time. I think we need to make a change -- starting tonight. (You see, it's my husband's turn to pray tonight! Let's see if he remembers the Scriptural admonition!)

How about you? Do you need to make any changes in your prayer life?

Preacher's Kid