By Dr. Mark Creech
In just five days from the writing of this article, North Carolina lawmakers will reconvene for the 2015-2016 Legislative Biennium. The House Chamber is expected to elect, Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) as House Speaker. The Senate Chamber will continue to be led by Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) as Senate President Pro-Tempore. In the House, 74 of the members hail from the Republican Party, 46 from the Democratic Party, while 1 member is unaffiliated. In the Senate, 34 lawmakers identify as Republicans, and 16 as Democrats.
These people have an awesome burden of setting the course for our state. When they convene they will not only talk about important issues like the state’s budget, taxes, education, etc. They will also likely take up issues that impact the moral climate of our state, such as life, religious liberty, and various questions pertaining to gambling, alcohol policy, etc.
We have a mandate from Scripture to intercede in prayer for these people. The apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to young Timothy, “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. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
Dr. Charles Stanley, renowned senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, once suggested ten ways to personally pray for those who occupy the highest offices in our land:
- Pray that they would realize their personal sinfulness and their daily need for cleansing of their sin by Jesus Christ.
- Pray that they would recognize their personal inadequacy to fulfill their tasks and that they would depend upon God for knowledge, wisdom, and the courage to do what is right.
- Pray that they would reject all counsel that violates spiritual principles, trusting God to prove them right.
- Pray that they would resist those who would pressure them to violate their conscience.
- Pray that they would reverse the trends of socialism and humanism…both of which deify man rather than God.
- Pray that they would be ready to sacrifice their personal ambitions and political careers for the sake of this nation, if yielding them would be in the best interest of their country.
- Pray that they would rely upon prayer and the Word of God as the source of their daily strength, wisdom and courage.
- Pray that they would restore human dignity, honor, trustworthiness, and righteousness to the office they hold.
- Pray that they would remember to be good examples in their conduct to the fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters of this nation.
- Pray that they would be reminded daily that they are accountable to Almighty God for the decisions they make. [1]
There is a great prayer for our leaders suggested in a 1986 publication by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, titled The Rebirth of America. I have taken the liberty to make a few edits to the prayer; nevertheless, nothing of substance has been changed.
Perhaps in the next few weeks the prayer could serve as a guide for Sunday School classes, Bible studies, church worship services, as well as other venues to pause and pray for our state’s legislative leadership.
HEAVENLY FATHER, we thank you for the great state of North Carolina and its Constitution which recognizes you as the source of our liberty. We thank you for our state’s leaders whom you have raised up for this time.
We pray that you will build a spiritual wall of protection around them, their marriages and their family that they might not be unnecessarily distracted from their duties.
We pray that you will give them wisdom and the courage to uphold our state and national constitutions which established a Republic based on your absolute laws not a democracy based on the changing whims of man’s reasoning.
We pray that you will rebuke the devil and all his minions for the deception that we can be “as gods” in deciding for ourselves what is right and wrong.
GRACIOUS LORD, may our leaders cast down every law, policy, and personal example which weakens not only the outer man, but the inner man – those things that separate us from you and the blessings you long to pour out on both our state and nation.
We pray that our leaders will comprehend and administer the principles of your Holy Word. May they realize that all authority comes from you, not simply the voters, and that one day they will stand before you to give an account of the power that you granted them.
We base this prayer on the promise of your Word to hear us. We base it on your admonition that we humble ourselves before you, that we seek your face and pray, and that we turn from our wicked ways. For then you will truly hear us, O Lord, and then you will forgive our sins and heal our land.
These requests we make in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen. [2]
William Cowper once said that Satan trembles when he sees even the weakest Saint on his knees. Surely there is no greater power for change and redemption than prayer. This is where Christian activism, this is where engaging the culture, this is where turning our great state and nation around really starts.
Therefore, as North Carolina lawmakers begin their service for the 2015-2016 Legislative Biennium, let us begin the most important work – the business of praying for them.
Resources:
[1] The Rebirth of America. Bala Cynwyd, Pa.?: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986, pg. 193
[2] Ibid, Prayer adapted from the prayer recorded on pg. 194