Today marks the start of the 2024 Idaho State Legislative Session.
As always, Idaho Family Policy Center will be at the Capitol this year, making your voice heard by advocating for the values we hold dear.
Please take a minute to pray for state legislators today as they hit the ground running—and make a commitment to keep praying for them regularly throughout the legislative session!
Use our Action Center to send a message telling your legislators that you will be praying for them this session.
My hope is that your prayers would not only be a blessing to them, but also that your prayers could be used by God to bring their hearts into greater alignment with biblical truths!
Devotion: Pray for State Officials
“First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NASB).
I’m often asked what actions people can take to turn our nation around. My response is always the same: I am convinced that our most important responsibility as Christian citizens involves praying for our leaders in civil government.
Although each individual Christian may not have significant time or resources available for biblical activism, every Christian can and should follow the instruction of Paul by praying for their public officials. Notice that Paul tells Timothy to pray “first of all” for those who are in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2). This is clearly a matter of high priority.
Sadly, Christians too often neglect this divine obligation. But we must not underestimate the power of prayer.
Scripture tells us that the heart of the king “is like streams of water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses” (Prov. 21:1, HCSB). If God can use our Spirit-empowered prayers to drive out demons and move mountains, how much more can he use our prayers to change the hearts of public officials? Is he not sovereign over all things, including the hearts of men?
It goes without saying that every public official deserves our prayers, even when they don’t deserve our votes. We should be praying that God changes the hearts of civil leaders who resist the lordship of Christ, persecute his church, and violate individual liberty. After all, nothing will transform the governing philosophy of a public official like encountering the saving and sanctifying grace of Jesus Christ!
God has chosen to use the prayers of His saints to advance the work of the Kingdom and transform the world. Let us come boldly before the throne of grace, asking for God to guide our civil officials into right thinking and right action!
Prayer: Lord, you have called state legislators to be your servants for the sake of their communities.
Equip them for this important work. Enlighten them with an understanding of biblical justice; provide them with wisdom to make prudential decisions; and give them courage to stay committed to first principles.
Most importantly, let them and their families taste your mercy, your goodness, and your salvation. In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.
