What To Pray For When Praying For Your Countries Leadership

The Scriptures addresses national leadership.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: when the wicked shall bear rule, the people shall mourn." (Proverbs 29:2)

In the Scriptures we see seven basic character traits needed in leadership.

The Character God Requires

Some say that character makes no difference in leadership; that it’s ability that counts. When we say that character is not important, we are saying that God is not important.

It is God who blesses good character. It is God who blesses a leader who has more than ability, but who also has character.

When we say that character is not important, we are saying that righteousness is not important and that we can handle things by ourselves; that skill is all we need. A national leader who does not have character will contaminate everything he touches.

1. Godliness

“Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth:Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord: For his name alone is exalted; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:11-13.

Leaders over all the Earth, whether they be kings or princes or judges, are to praise God.

Leadership is actually stewardship because the leader acts for God.

“For he is God's minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God's minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.” Romans 13:4

An ungodly man or woman is unfit for leadership. Even if he carries a Bible and attends church, he is unfit for leadership if he is ungodly or unrighteous.

“It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness” Proverbs 16:12. To claim that character makes no difference is to say that God’s Word is not true.

2. Wisdom

"I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things” Proverbs 8:12-16.

It is far better for a leader to be wise than to be intelligent, smart or gifted.

Because King Solomon asked for wisdom, God granted him wisdom; and God also established his kingdom and gave King Solomon riches, honor and prosperity. See 2 Chronicles 1:7-11. Leadership comes from godliness, righteousness and wisdom.

3. Honesty

“Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.” Proverbs 17:7.

Leaders and liars are not the same. A man who is a liar has a basic character flaw. And if you cannot trust a man to tell the truth, then you cannot trust him for anything. If a man is not a truth teller, then he cannot lead with God’s approval.

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.” John 8:44

Understand that every liar is acting like the devil. On the other hand, every truth speaker is acting like the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Discrimination

Discrimination is a bad thing if it is discrimination against a person because of characteristics over which they have no control, such as race, national origin, etc. Discrimination is good, however, when choosing between good and bad and between wise and unwise. If this type of discrimination is not present, then that person cannot lead.

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.” Proverbs 25:4-5.

A national leader does not need to be surrounded by wicked people. A wise leader will purge wicked advisors and associates from his administration.

“If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.” Proverbs 29:12

If you want to know what a ruler is like, then look at the kind of people he surrounds himself with. If a man is not a truthteller, then he will surround himself with wicked people.

5. Sexual Morality

If a person is sexually immoral, then he is unfit to lead.

“The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son?What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.” Proverbs 31:1-3

Immorality destroys a leader. If someone will not keep his word concerning the most sacred vow, which is the marriage vow, then he will not keep his word concerning any other vow. If a man has no moral standard of his own, then how can he set a moral standard for the nation? Someone who is sexually immoral according to the Word of God cannot be the kind of leader that God desires him to be.

6. Sober

"The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.” Proverbs 31:1-5

God’s Word says that it is not prudent for the leader of a nation to drink beverage alcohol. While drugs are not mentioned in this Scripture, they are certainly implied. Anything that takes away a person’s right or ability of discrimination is implied in this passage.

Many leaders in our nation are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. We should look for leaders who are not only sober-minded but who are sober.

7. Protective

A leader is not necessarily protective of himself, but he should have a spirit of protecting the weak. God gives us leaders primarily to protect the weak and to defend those who cannot defend themselves. A national leader is to watch out for the afflicted.

“And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.” Proverbs 31:5

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are appointed for destruction. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

The king is to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. He is to be a defender and protector.

The king and leader must speak for the unborn babies who cannot speak for themselves.

“Open thy mouth for the mute in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.” Proverbs 31:8

“Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death” Psalm 94:20-21

In this passage, the psalmist is speaking to God, and he speaks about the throne as a throne of iniquity. Just because something is legal does not make it right.

When leaders declare that pre-born babies are no longer individuals, they frame mischief by a law and gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood. This is an abomination to God.

“And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Juda, that sittest upon the throne of David: thou and thy servants, and thy people, who enter in by these gates. Thus saith the Lord: Execute judgement and justice, and deliver him that is oppressed out of the hand of the oppressor: and afflict not the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, nor oppress them unjustly: and shed not innocent blood in this place. For if you will do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house, kings of the race of David sitting upon his throne, and riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants, and their people. But if you will not hearken to these words: I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.” Jeremiah 22:2-5

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29:2

Wicked people make wicked laws. Nothing is politically right that is morally wrong.

“Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and prepareth a city by iniquity.” Habakkuk 2:12

Any political candidate who will not stand up for the unborn should not be in office.