Obey And Pray

There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Romans 13:1

When the Founding Fathers of the United States established our system of government, they did something unique in history: they built in checks and balances between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. No one person or branch of government can rule the country. Everyone is subject to someone else.

The Bible says that all authorities are “appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). That includes authorities at the national and local levels of government, authorities in the church, and authorities in the family. All authority is based in God’s ultimate authority, and He assigns it to others according to His plan. Since authority comes from Him, authorities are deserving of our prayers—that they might govern in ways that honor the Source of the authority they exercise. It is easy to complain about the authorities in our lives, but God has a solution: pray “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:2).

Are the authorities in your life—national, local, spiritual, familial—on your prayer list? You are the beneficiary of your prayers for them.

The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer.

OSWALD CHAMBERS