Praying for the Government

In today's Medicine Hat News…

After a marathon campaign, big wins and losses in election results that surprised most of us, and the formal transition of power over the last few days, you'll be reading this on the first Saturday under the new Liberal regime. Tomorrow, of course, will the first Sunday. Although our government has changed, what we Christians are called to do as Canadian citizens has not. We continue to worship the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, we continue to be witnesses of the Resurrection, we continue to love and serve our neighbours (whatever their politics) and we continue to pray. In particular, we continue to pray for our government and our elected representatives locally, provincially and federally, whether we voted for them or not.

The Apostle Paul urged "that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. " (1Ti2.1-2) That's a good thing to do any day, especially the Sunday after a government change. I think it's worth praying for peaceful, quiet, Godly and dignified lives for all Canadians. I can pray for that whole-heartedly no matter what the government's political stripe and whether I agree with them, or not.

I think the Canadian Anglican Book of Common Prayer put's it well in A Prayer for the Queen and the Commonwealth. "ALMIGHTY God, the fountain of all good-
 ness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen ELIZABETH, the Parliaments of the Commonwealth, and all who are set in authority under her (and I include ours and our provincial and municipal governments here); that they may order all things in wisdom, righteousness, and peace, to the honour of thy holy Name, and the good of thy Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen." (p12)

Such prayers stimulate the activity of the Holy Spirit in the decision-making and actions of our new government. With God's good Spirit involved, things are much more likely to be ordered in wisdom, righteousness and peace, to the honour of God's holy Name and the good of his Church and people. When that happens everyone wins.