God's Glory Church

“He will come down like rain, like drops that water the earth.” — Psalm 71:6

In July 2022, the Prime Minister of Great Britain was forced out of office after what many believed to be a breach of integrity (the newly appointed Prime Minister also resigned after just a few months!). This event was caused by the fact that the Minister of Health, having taken part in the annual prayer breakfast in Parliament, felt an inner conviction of the need to maintain integrity in public life and resigned. When other ministers also submitted their resignations, the prime minister realized that he too had to leave. It was a significant event, the beginning of which was laid at a prayer meeting.

Christians are called to pray for their political leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2), and Psalm 71 is a good guide for this, being both a description of the ruler’s job and a prayer to help him do that job. The psalm describes an ideal leader (vv. 1-2) who protects the vulnerable (vv. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13), and opposes violence (v. 14). The time of such a leader in office is so refreshing that it seems as if it is the rains that “irrigate the earth” and bring it prosperity (vv. 3, 7, 16). Although only the Messiah can fulfill this role perfectly (v. 11).

The health of a country depends on the integrity of its rulers. Let’s look for the “leaders of Psalm 71” for our peoples and, praying for them, let’s help them to embody in life those traits that are spoken about in the psalm.

What traits do you want to see in a leader? How often do you pray for local and national leaders?

Heavenly Father, please help our leaders to be fair, honest and good people.

Author: Sheridan Voysey