1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NLT)
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
Notice three things in these verses. First, we are exhorted to pray for our leaders, both here in this country and around the world. Second, the reason we must pray is so that we can live in peace, quietness, godliness, and dignity. Third, we are told to “Pray this way…” How are we to pray for those who are in authority? We find the answer in 1 Timothy 2:1. “Ask God to help them and give thanks for them.” We are to intercede for all those who are in authority that God would have mercy on them, and then we are to thank God for putting them in the positions they are in. (See Romans 13:1 and 1 Peter 2:17)
The reason God wants us to give thanks is because it is so easy to criticize and complain. When we intercede (pray) for others, we are not so apt to criticize them. When we intercede (pray) for those in authority, we are not so apt to complain about the negativity of governments. This not only applies to our leaders and those who are in authority, but to all people everywhere.
We can, and should, pray that God’s will would be done in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the United States government. We can, and should, pray that these three branches of government function as outlined in the Constitution of the United States.