Praying for the Government

Posted on 13 February 2010.

A couple of years ago, a church in ‘B' was under real pressure from the authorities. It was growing fast and it was difficult to find somewhere that the whole church could gather.

Each time the church leaders found somewhere to rent, local officials would force them to move on. Pressure would also be put on their landlords, who were warned not to allow the church to meet on their premises.

One time the church seemed to have found the perfect place to rent. They moved in and installed the necessary equipment. But then, once again, their landlord was told to move them out. Angered by this pressure, the landlord confiscated the equipment the church had bought and kept it for himself.

Yet in the midst of all this, church members committed to pray regularly for the Chinese government. Each Sunday, they got down on their knees and often cried out to God with tears for His blessing on the authorities in China.

Today, the church has finally found somewhere to meet regularly. It continues to grow and new Christians regularly stand up to give their testimonies. Many of those testimonies have a similar theme.

New Christians often tell how they first came along to the church as non-believers and saw all the challenges the believers were facing. They experienced the church being moved on from place to place. But they also saw church members regularly crying out to the Lord with tears for the government. They saw that the believers really meant what they were praying and they were profoundly moved. They knew that people did not normally behave like that and the believers' actions had a major impact in drawing them to trust the Lord for themselves.

What a challenge to us! Will we too commit to pray regularly for the Chinese government and ask that our prayers too might have a powerful impact for God's Kingdom in China? See 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and Romans 13:1-8 for what the Bible has to say about this.

Give thanks to the Lord for the faithful prayers of this church in ‘B'. May they continue to know His encouragement, His protection and His abundant blessing.

Follow the example of these church members in ‘B' and lift up the authorities in China to the Lord. Pray that those who rule the country might know His wisdom, His guidance and His blessing as they seek the good of the Chinese people.

Pray for President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and any other leaders you may know by name. Pray for the Holy Spirit's work in their lives, for soft hearts and open ears to hear God's call upon them.

Pray that Christians throughout China might be obedient to the Lord and His Biblical commands in praying for those in authority over them. May their prayers have a powerful impact in bringing spiritual transformation to their country.