Praying for Leaders after Election Season Ends: Part 1

Paul exhorts Timothy (and us as well) in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, "...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."

Let's break these verses down a little. 

Petitions are requests, often formal, made to someone in authority (God), in a respectful and humble manner.

Similarly prayers are defined as a devout petition or communing with God through various ways (asking, rejoicing, adoring, confessing)

Intercessions are praying on behalf of another person. 

Thanksgiving involves giving thanks or gratefully acknowledging the benefits or favors received

Throughout today, try to use each of these styles of prayer.

-Petitions 

-Prayers

-Intercession

-Thanksgiving

Try to connect the prayer times with meals and bedtime, if that helps. 

Which method comes the most naturally to you? 

Which method is the most difficult to use? 

What petitions are you making? 

When do you struggle to be respectful and humble? 

What methods of prayers do you typically use? 

(Search for "12 types of prayer" and see well over 12 options. Both the "all" and "images" have plenty of options). 

How are you interceeding for others? 

Are you praying on their behalf or asking for their judgment and punishment? 

For their benefit or against them? 

How often are you giving thanks? 

What and who are you giving thanks for? 

Who is the Holy Spirit asking you to give thanks for? 

Which parts of this post are difficult or challenging or even offensive? 

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Praying for Jewish People

There are 7.8 billion people on this planet. Only 2.6 billion of them are Christians. We will consider blog post by blog post ways to pray for the remaining 5.2 billion people on the planet. 

There are 16 million Jews in the world. Today, we are going to focus on praying for them. 

Pray for Jews to encounter Christ through dreams, visions, and conversations.

Pray for Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with Jews, where questions can be asked, considered, and answered.

Pray for Jews to encounter and study Christian resources, such as radio stations, books, and other media.

As Christians, we believe there is only one way to heaven, namely through faith in Jesus Christ, so we ought to be interceding for those who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord. More than praying for Jews to become Christians, we ought to also be sharing the Good News with them, building friendships with them, and walking alongside them as we show them who Jesus is. 

Praying for Indigenous Religious People

There are 7.8 billion people on this planet. Only 2.6 billion of them are Christians. We will consider blog post by blog post ways to pray for the remaining 5.2 billion people on the planet. 

There are 400 million adherents of indigenous religions in the world. Today, we are going to focus on praying for them. 

Pray for practitioners of indigenous religions to encounter Christ through dreams, visions, and conversations.

Pray for Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with them, where questions can be asked, considered, and answered.

Pray for followers of indigenous religions to encounter and study Christian resources, such as radio stations, books, and other media.

As Christians, we believe there is only one way to heaven, namely through faith in Jesus Christ, so we ought to be interceding for those who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord. More than praying for them to become Christians, we ought to also be sharing the Good News with them, building friendships with them, and walking alongside them as we show them who Jesus is. 

Praying for Both Gaza and Israel

 Pray for Israel, but also pray for the civilians in Gaza as well.

Israel's defense minister was quoted as saying ""No electricity, no food, no water, no gas - it's all closed," he said, adding that "we are fighting animals and are acting accordingly.""
<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67051292>

Let me be explicitly clear: People are not animals. When we dehumanize people, we begin to head toward genocide and we kill off a part of our own humanity inside us as well.

People need food and water. People with medical problems need electricity. People need medicine. The people living in Gaza are struggling with food insecurity because of the violence and now are having their access to water and electricity cut off.

This is breaking my heart. Yes, the group Hamas are terrorists and committed acts of terror, but Palestine, and Gaza in particular, is NOT 100% Hamas.

We have all these groups halting aid to Palestine, whereby Palestinians are suffering along with the Israelis (attacked by Israel and oppressed by Hamas).
<https://www.npr.org/2023/10/09/1204662594/europe-condemn-hamas-support-israel-suspend-palestinian-aid>

We can mourn the attack on Israel and condemn the actions of Hamas WITHOUT cutting off essentials to life. Pray for Israel, but also pray for the civilians in Gaza. 

Praying for the Non-Religious

There are 7.8 billion people on this planet. Only 2.6 billion of them are Christians. We will consider blog post by blog post ways to pray for the remaining 5.2 billion people on the planet. 

There are 1.1 billion non-religious people in the world. Today, we are going to focus on praying for them. 

Pray for non-religious people to encounter Christ through dreams, visions, and conversations.

Pray for Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with non-religious people, where questions can be asked, considered, and answered.

Pray for non-religious people to encounter and study Christian resources, such as radio stations, books, and other media.

As Christians, we believe there is only one way to heaven, namely through faith in Jesus Christ, so we ought to be interceding for those who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord. More than praying for them to become Christians, we ought to also be sharing the Good News with them, building friendships with them, and walking alongside them as we show them who Jesus is. 

Praying for Buddhists

There are 7.8 billion people on this planet. Only 2.6 billion of them are Christians. We will consider blog post by blog post ways to pray for the remaining 5.2 billion people on the planet. 

There are 400 million Buddhists in the world. Today, we are going to focus on praying for them. 

Pray for Buddhists to encounter Christ through dreams, visions, and conversations.

Pray for Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with Buddhists, where questions can be asked, considered, and answered.

Pray for Buddhists to encounter and study Christian resources, such as radio stations, books, and other media.

Each year, there is a prayer guide called 15 Days of Prayer for the Buddhist World. This is a great resource for those who don't know what to pray for Buddhists.

As Christians, we believe there is only one way to heaven, namely through faith in Jesus Christ, so we ought to be interceding for those who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord. More than praying for Buddhists to become Christians, we ought to also be sharing the Good News with them, building friendships with them, and walking alongside them as we show them who Jesus is. 

Praying for Hindus

There are 7.8 billion people on this planet. Only 2.6 billion of them are Christians. We will consider blog post by blog post ways to pray for the remaining 5.2 billion people on the planet. 

There are 1.2 billion Hindus in the world. Today, we are going to focus on praying for them. 

Pray for Hindus to encounter Christ through dreams, visions, and conversations.

Pray for Christians to engage in respectful dialogue with Hindus, where questions can be asked, considered, and answered.

Pray for Hindus to encounter and study Christian resources, such as radio stations, books, and other media.

Each year, there is a prayer guide called 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World. This is a great resource for those who don't know what to pray for Hindus .

As Christians, we believe there is only one way to heaven, namely through faith in Jesus Christ, so we ought to be interceding for those who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord. More than praying for Hindus to become Christians, we ought to also be sharing the Good News with them, building friendships with them, and walking alongside them as we show them who Jesus is.