Young Adults' Group

Praying For Our Country

by Pastor Mark
August 09, 2017

Celebrating our 52nd National day

A Happy and Blessed National Day!

Today is a significant day for all of us as we celebrate Singapore’s 52nd birthday. Singapore has been through so much to be where we are today. Let us never take our blessings for granted and assume that our nation will continue to prosper and thrive especially as we live in an ever changing and challenging world.  Let us take to time to specially pray for our country.

The encouragement to pray for our leaders and nation

“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)

The Apostle Paul made an exhortation for Timothy and also for all of us to give priority to pray for all men…especially for our leaders and those who support them in ruling the country. In what way should we pray for them?

Types of prayers

There are four types of prayers that we could engage in.

1. Supplications

The first type of prayer that Paul mentioned was supplications. In Greek, it is “deesis” which means “petition, to plea.” The challenging times that we live in calls for us to urgently plea to the Lord for our leaders and for the nation.

2. Prayers

The second type is with reference to general prayers. The word “proseuche” means to “wish”. It is to present our wish to the Lord. Let us specially pray and wish for the Lord’s blessings on our leaders and nation on this national day.

3. Intercessions

We also want to make intercessions. The Greek word is “enteuxis” which means to “intercede”. It is to plead on behalf of others. Let us seek to intercede on behalf of our government and our fellow citizens.

4. Thanksgiving

Lastly, there should be the giving of thanks. The word “eucharisteo” means the grace to give thanks. As we have received so much grace, our response should be one of thanksgiving. We thank God for the abundant grace that He has given to our nation…that we have good leaders and a prospering country. Let us truly be thankful as we celebrate our 52nd year of independence.

The challenge to pray for peace in the land

While we thank God for the peace that we have in Singapore, we recognise that we are living in a world that is filled with evil and where evil men are seeking to disrupt the peace that we have. Let us be challenged to pray that the Lord will continue to give us peace as a nation so that we could live lives in godliness and with reverence to the Lord. Let us pray for our leaders to have the wisdom to maintain our peace and prosperity in these challenging times.

Back to Article Listing