A Prayer for Leaders

"Endow the king with your justice, O God,

the royal son with your righteousness.

He will judge your people in righteousness,

your afflicted ones with justice.

The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,

the hills the fruit of righteousness.

He will defend the afflicted among the people

and save the children of the needy;

he will crush the oppressor."

--Psalm 72:1-4

Here is Solomon asking God for the wisdom to rule over his people. He knows that justice, prosperity, and the ability to protect his people come from God.

As you read these verses, you will see that they are written as a prayer. As such, I challenge you today to pray these verses over the leaders in your life. It may be a friend who is a business owner, a child who is a manager, a relative who is in politics. All of these are types of leaders, and they all need to be able to lead in righteousness that only comes from the High King, which is the Lord God.

So today, begin the habit of praying for leaders using the words of this Psalm. Pray that they would judge in righteousness, that they would give the afflicted justice, and that they would crush the oppressor. But, most of all, that they would humbly submit to the King of King and Lord of Lords who is the one that put them in the place of leadership, and will show them the way to lead if they will listen and follow.

Doug