The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
(Proverbs 12:26 NIV)
Have you heard any of these before?
“Birds of a feather flock together.” — Proverb
“Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“A man is known by the company he keeps.” — Aesop
These quotes all highlight the idea that the people you surround yourself with influence your character, decisions, and overall life path. They serve as a reminder that people generally build relationships with others who share values and goals. Regardless of whether we agree with their political views, I think we can agree that the individuals President Trump selected to work with him—whether in the Cabinet or other positions—are likely to share his values and goals. This is a common pattern in every administration. Typically, the President nominates someone for a role, the Senate holds hearings, asks questions, and then votes to confirm or reject the nominee. Senate confirmation plays an important role in the system of checks and balances in U.S. government.
No matter who is in the Presidency, we are still called to pray for the President, his Cabinet, ambassadors, federal law enforcement and intelligence leaders, members of regulatory agencies, and others who will be serving in the administration. Praying for the President’s Cabinet and other leaders is a powerful and important act. The Bible encourages prayer for those in authority, as their decisions impact many lives.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely like to live a peaceful and quiet life, full of godliness and holiness. So, I guess it’s time to pray!
God,
We thank you for the godly men and women you’ve placed in leadership positions, including President Trump’s Cabinet and other key offices. Today, we come before you to intercede on their behalf. We ask that you guide them with wisdom, integrity, and justice as they make crucial decisions for the nation. We recognize that all leadership ultimately comes from you, so we pray for your guidance for each of them.
Grant them wisdom, integrity, justice, courage, strength, stamina, and grace to navigate the challenges they face. Fill them with a deep understanding of your will, so they lead lives that bear good fruit and honor you. Help them remain humble and attentive to your Spirit in all their work.
We pray for your blessing, favor, and protection to be on their spouses, children, and families as they support their loved ones.
May their leadership help this nation operate efficiently according to Constitutional principles, allowing the people to pursue life, liberty, justice, righteousness, and happiness. We pray all this in Jesus’s name. Amen.
“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.” (Psalm 72:1-2 NIV)
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 NIV)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10 NIV)
“Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15 NIV)