Give Thanks for Civil Authority
We often hear in prayers something akin to, "We give thanks and pray for those in positions of authority." For the brethren in the United States, making specific mention of the current president or the governor of whatever state a congregation is in is also common. Some may balk at that. Why, after all, would we want to comingle politics and service to God? For starters, we're commanded to do so:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
It is also not a comingling of politics and worship to simply pray for our government. It is not as though we're worshiping men in doing so. It is in keeping with the behavior Christians are exhorted to observe several times in the New Testament, Jesus Himself doing so with the following statement: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21). We are to be subject to the law of the land, so long as it does not conflict with God's law (Acts 5:28-29). Why pray for them, though?
Paul explicitly answers, that we may have a "quiet and peaceable life" (1 Tim. 2:1-2). But that's not the only reason. He expounds upon this more in Romans 13:1-7. He points out in verses 3-4 that God uses civil authority providentially to punish the wicked in this life. Governments also conduct warfare on a people's behalf when necessary. These situations involve making very tough decisions o be be forced to make. Therefore, we give thanks and pray for them, knowing that sacrifices are being made for our protection, freedom, and peace.
These exhortations should not be taken to mean that all civil authority is therefore righteous because it is appointed by God. All men have sinned, and those in positions of power are no exception. One need not look far to find a horribly corrupt government in this world. Consider that God referred to Nebuchadnezzar, the incredibly wicked Babylonian king, as His servant (Jer. 43:10). Nebuchadnezzar was certainly not a faithful servant to God, but He used him to accomplish His will nonetheless. Knowing that our rulers may be wicked, still we pray that God guide them that proper decisions might be made. We also pray for all other men hat they would come to Christ.