So as we began praying for Governor Whitmer together . . .

and I can’t remember who led in the group . . .

again he said something like . . . He’s been noticing a lot of things in the news degrading to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Finally, it began to dawn on me that he could’ve been talking about me.

People who know me well, know that I don’t like “shoulds” and “musts” . . . but on the other hand, I don’t see any better way to summarize some of these thoughts on prayer today.

We’re not just speaking by rote when we come before God. Prayer can be a part of our lives . . . in good times and in challenging times.

i. We SHOULD have a prayer habit, or at least be starting prayer routines, & then mixing things up . . . because we MUST not get used too familiar with any type of prayer! (i.e. even if we pray for our leaders in new ways, or serve communion on an off-Sunday 🙂

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions be made continually for personal needs, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks on behalf of all men, on behalf of kings and all those holding high positions, in order that a quiet and peaceful life we may be leading in every godliness and becoming deportment. 1 Timothy ii.1-2, Wuest

Now, Kenneth Wuest is speaking in the language of his times, but he’s also very close to the original Greek, even with the sentence structure.

This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Saviour God who desires that all men be saved and come to a precise and experiential knowledge of the truth. i Tim ii.3-4

Did you know the verse that I’m tagging on the end, the one we all quote, goes with praying for our leaders and those in high positions?

Did anyone know that, because that’s an important thing to keep in mind?

We are to pray for leaders.

ii. vignette: praying for Governor Whitmer

Some people have difficulty with this. I’m one of them at times, just to be honest.

Some Pastors and I were meeting for coffee and praying about the state. And one of them said something like he’s been noticing a lot of things in the news that are degrading to Governor Whitmer.

So as we began praying for Governor Whitmer together

. . . and I can’t remember who led in the group, again he said something like, He’s been noticing a lot of things in the news degrading to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Finally, it began to dawn on me that he could’ve been talking about me.

He could’ve been talking about people I lead.

Is the news really our Facebook pages?

But I began with me. In the best way I could this week [last week], I confessed and prayed for forgiveness, so that I could continue to pray for our leaders with the right tone.

And he added that with the challenges she must be facing, Governor Whitmer, we really may not think the news matters to her.

I perked up my ears and listened.

And then he may or may not have been speculating, and I say may or may not, but I’m leaning toward he may not have been speculating about how condescending bad press can be for anyone.

Think about the high position leaders in Rome.

By this time, the time this letter was written, they are starting to face the first stings of persecution. In fact Paul, who was Saul, was the one leading the charge. [Follow the money between the Temple (specifically within Jerusalem), the Hebrew hierarchy, and the Roman Governor to deduce whether or not some of the leaders in Jerusalem were working hand in hand with the empire specifically at that time].

Paul was on the other side at one point wasn’t he?

They had it a lot worse.

iii. They had it a lot worse

I’m telling you they had it a lot worse, as a church, but the Apostle Paul tells the young pastor that we have an obligation as members of the city of God, to pray for people in the capital, in that city.

We have an obligation to pray for our civic leaders, to intercede for them, even if they don’t like our views.

We also have an obligation to pray with the hope of salvation for any of our leaders, according to this Passage.

I won’t go into all the things that Origen says about this Passage, because that is spiritual warfare, fighting battles for them. He says they are doing the work that God has placed before them, because He raises up governments as an institution.

While I’m at it, if I’ve said anything to you, I ask for your forgiveness.

I need to pray for all leaders. That Young Republican in me comes out sometimes [although I was never an official member of that club as far as I know], but I have to pray for people on the other side of the aisle

iv. When we establish a habit of prayer, it SHOULD affect every aspect of our lives. And as Paul tells the young pastor, our prayers MUST even include praying for civic leaders.

So today, let my confession, and this particular message . . .

praying for Governor Whitmer

. . . be a gentle reminder to consider the practice or habit of prayer.

* The Sermon is available to download for FREE for a limited time on

The portion of this particular sermon about praying for Governor Whitmer begins circa minute 24.

If you already have a practice you’re comfortable with, I ask you in these challenging times, to mix it up sometimes. So that you don’t just become used to one particular practice or form of prayer.

Perhaps you’re overwhelmed during this time and you don’t know how to pray, because you’re just reading the news – reading the news – and there was a point when I was there earlier in the spring. I was like, “I CANNOT!” I had to lay down the news and quit reading about all this.

If you’re overwhelmed and you don’t know how to direct your prayer, one suggestion I’d like you to do is one of these thing’s I’ve done.

You can get on Facebook and do it. They have City Hall on there.

You can do it through websites.

Get your direct line of authority, all the way down to your local Representatives.

Pray and call out their names.

Pray for them because you don’t know what challenges they’re facing today. You don’t know how difficult their day is, or their week, or their month.

Why not make that a habit of prayer, if you don’t have one and you’d like to find a place to start?

I know that they would be honored that you’re praying for them. They would be completely blessed if they realized that you’re on the other side of the aisle and you’re praying for them.