The Top 10 Things We Should Pray for Government

Happy almost Canada Day!  We live in an incredible country that is tremendously blessed in so many ways!  We are blessed to live in Canada and to call ourselves Canadians!  

Yesterday was Government Prayer Sunday in Canada.  I had the privilege of speaking at Church of Our Lord in Victoria.  I spoke on 'Why We Should Pray For Government'.  If you click the title of the message, you can see the actual sermon, but I've also provided some notes if you'd just like to get a sense of what I talked about.

Why Should We Pray for those in Government?

‘That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness…’   1 Tim 2:1,2

What Should We Pray for those in Government?        (Ps 72)

Top 10 Things We Should Pray for Government

1)  God would give them His love for justice v. 1

2)  Commitment to Righteousness v. 1b

3)  That they would have Compassion for the Poor v.2

4)  Fear of God would be present in their: v. 5

a.   Lives

b.   Deliberations

c.   Leadership

5)  Their leadership would be a blessing (refreshing) to our cities, province and nation v. 6

6)  Godly would flourish v. 7a

7)  Our land would know abundant prosperity v. 7b

8)  Our leaders would receive favour and honour from friends and adversaries alike.  v. 9, 10

9)  They will help the oppressed.  v. 12

    10)  They will rescue the weak and needy v. 13

How Should We Pray?

     1) Fervently! - the prayer of a righteous man avails much! James 5:16

     2) Without ceasing! - 1 Thes 5:17

What Happens When We Pray For Government?

1)  God responds to our prayers!

a.   Surprising things happen when we ask God to impact our leaders

b.   Policy Changes, Direction Changes, Government Changes

2)  God Changes our ATTITUDE!

3)  God Touches Our Leaders

A Prayer For Ontario's Government

After every election there are winners and there are losers.  There are those who preferred that the outcome that it would be different than it is.  As people who pray we remind ourselves of two things on the day after an election.  The first is that God raises kings up and He lowers them down according to His purposes.  The second is that we have a mandate to pray for those who govern over us.  We must never lose sight of this important responsibity and ensure that we give ourselves to it.  Let's begin by praying this prayer together today.

God in Heaven, we believe that You have chosen every MPP who was elected tonight.  You raise kings and leaders up and you lower them down according to Your purposes.  We ask that you would grant your wisdom, grace, insight and courage to every MPP who will soon be taking their seat at Queens Park.  You have designed them to lead this province during this crucial time.  We pray for Premier Wynn.  We ask that you would be gracious to her and that she would lead Ontario with distinction through this upcoming term.  Give her compassion for the poor and the oppressed, a heart for the weak and disenfranchised, boldness as she develops a plan and strategy for the future and great grace as she carries on in this important role.

We pray for those who will serve in Opposition.  Help them to be effective so that we might have good government and that our province will experience Your blessing and hand of favor upon it.

Help us as your people to be faithful to pray for those who have authority over us and to stand in the gap on their behalf so that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives and so that our province may be blessed.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Pastor Ron Hughes Offers a Prayer of Thanks

Our Father in heaven I thank you for the opportunity we have to take part in selecting leaders. I thank you for the friendly faces at the polling stations and the distinct absence of armed guards. I thank you that we have a choice of several candidates. We put the result into your capable hands and we look forward to seeing your goodness in the land we are living over the next four years in particular. In Jesus name, amen.

Surrendering Our Will To His on Election Day

Father in Heaven the polls are open. The day has finally arrived. Now we wait in keen anticipation for the outcome . As we patiently wait we thank you that You are in control. As you taught your disciples, we pray your will be done in Ontario as it is in Heaven. Give Ontario each day exactly what is required to do your will. Provide our needs and may a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation fill this province . Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others . Lead us away from darkness and into your truth and life. Deliver us from the hands of the Evil One. For Yours is the Kingdom and the. Glory forever and ever, Amen.

A Prayer for Unity

Steve Sutherland from Hamilton prays:

Lord, your final prayer for your people was that they would be one, and yet politics is one of the greatest sources of division today. We pray that your body would set an example for all of Ontario, regardless of the outcome of this election, that we would be unified through Christ to serve our communities and build your kingdom in this province; and, by this example may we show our neighbours that being in relationship with you and with each other is the foundation for peace, reconciliation, and love for the strengthening of each other. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

A Prayer for A Commitment to Continue to Pray for Leaders

Dear God Almighty who loves us all so much. You are still on the throne. Help us to remember that you are our provider and strength no matter who sits in parliament after June 12. Help us to pray for our leaders trusting you will turn the hearts of kings, and you will show wisdom to those who ask. I pray that you would soften the calloused and wounded hearts of voters so that they may speak with their votes and trust that your hand guides all. We love you Lord and we trust Your will is being accomplished through all things, even this election. Amen

A Prayer For Every Candidate

Wendy Hagar from 'Sew on Fire' Ministries wrote this prayer! 

Father in Heaven, what a privilege it is to come before your throne.
You said, to cast all our cares upon You, and to lay all our burdens down at your feet. You said that we should be sober, be vigilant, because the adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
You said we should resist him, be steadfast in the faith.
Lord You are able, You are mighty, You are faithful, You never sleep, and You never tire of our prayers. Because you care.

Lord, we pray, we are troubled and worried about the future of our wonderful province. Father in Heaven, we pray for this election, today, we pray for each and every courageous candidate that has come forward, placed their name in the running, pledged their lives to serve, and often they and their family come under public scrutiny and personal attacks. We pray protection over each family. We pray that the leaders elected will defend our freedom, they will walk honourably, they will take brave stands for righteousness. Lord, let wisdom enter their heart, if they lack wisdom, Lord we pray, they would acknowledge You, and You will direct their path. Lord we pray You would cause them to be men and women of integrity. Lord we pray You would make their hearts and ears attentive to godly counsel. Lord we pray that the upright will dwell in our government in Ontario, today.

From the beginning of time You chose to use us, use our hands, our feet, our mouths and our prayers, so today oh Lord, we pray that truth will prevail. Pour your Spirit upon the citizens of Ontario that they will know, their vote will make a difference. We pray for discernment between truth and falsehood that it would be clear. Ontario citizens would use their power, the Vote, and take this responsibility to be involved and active in this process of our democracy. Self interest will be set aside for the common good of all.

Father in heaven You are the Alpha and Omega you know the beginning from the end. We pray your Will be accomplished today. So we choose to trust in You, we will rest in your love, and pray your Kingdom come.
In Jesus name, amen

A Prayer For Direction at the Polls

Thomas K Hoerrie submits this prayer:

Father God, I pray that my brothers and sisters on the other side of the lake, vote the way you want them too. God save Ontario, flood the polls with your people.

A Prayer for Strong Voter Turnout

Evelyn Wilson prays:

Praying for our wonderful province and that as the voters come and mark that ballot , that You would guide and direct. As the polls have just opened.. may You be with the poll workers and that there may be no issues at the polls today

A Prayer For Justice and Mercy

Mark Steinacher from Brantford prays:

We come before You, Lord God our Father, realizing our own weakness and frailty, our fallen nature that points our hearts and minds to self-fulfillment, rather than growth as the new people you have called us in Christ to be. We confess and admit our own powerlessness to fulfill Your calling on our lives; we ask for the wisdom that Your Holy Spirit alone can grant. Shape our minds to think as Your Son would think. May that insight guide us as we exercise our freedom to vote. Lord God, Your Word tells us that You change the course of a monarch’s heart the way You change the course of a river. As votes are cast this day, we ask that our premier will have the course of his or her heart changed. Even as we recognize that we cannot use human law to achieve what Your Holy Spirit alone works, We ask for Your intervention to steer our leadership to promote policies and legislation that reflect good and wholesome values. We ask that we may live in a society where justice is upheld. We ask for justice for victims of crime, that our laws may provide redress. We ask for justice for those whose lives have been plunged into poverty, whether by their own poor decisions or the heartless decisions of others, that they may receive the care Your holy prophets declared was right. We ask for justice for the unborn, that they may be protected from dying before they draw their first breath. We pray for justice for the common workers, that they may not be oppressed by employers ensnared by raging greed. We pray for justice for those who have been harmed by our words or actions. We pray for ourselves, not just justice, but for grace and for mercy.

The Thing that Matters Most

Rev. Dave Wells, General Superintendent, PAOC shares this prayer with us on Election Day.

"Lord, what our provincial government oversees matters to you; education - teach us your ways, healthcare - we are fearfully and wonderfully made, social services - love neighbor as ourselves, environment - you created and it is good. Grant that those who will govern will do so with these truths in mind. For your glory, Amen"

Pastor Ralph is Praying For A Strong Turnout at the Polls tomorrow!

Pastor Ralph Juthman from Havelock writes that 'he has never been as engaged spiritually during an election campaign than he is with this one.'  I think it's safe to say that Pastor Ralph has caught the election prayer bug!  We know that God directs the hearts of kings in the same way that He directs the course of a river and we know that He does those things when we pray.  Let's pray with Pastor Ralph today!

Almighty God in Heaven, you are from everlasting to everlasting. Your mercies are new every day. Today we look to you for wisdom, understanding, and grace. We love and worship You for your faithfulness and blessing. As we are on the eve of Ontario's election, I am praying against the spirit of apathy that causes people to stay home out of indifference. I pray You would set a fire under the feet of your people to go make a difference simply by casting a ballot. I pray that as You move by your Spirit, that You would now begin to strategically place Your people in positions of influence where they will stand as prophetic voices declaring hope, victory and life for our leaders. You are calling us to WAIT. As we do, we look to you and worship You for your power , glory, grace and mercy. we anticipate Your hand to move sovereignly in this election and throughout the next four years. We will continue to intercede for the leaders you will give us and we will trust You for Your will to be done in Ontario as it is in Heaven. we declare this now in the matchless name of Jesus Your Son, AMEN!

God Direct Us as We Approach Election Day!

Hope is powerful!  Without it, we despair and shrink back.  With it, we press forward with confidence looking to a better and brighter tomorrow.  Pastor Ron Hughes from Brantford writes our first in a series of prayers for the day.  Let's pray together.

Dear Heavenly Father, King David once wrote that, “I would have lost hope if I did not believe that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land that I am living.” Psalm 27:13.

I thank you that I can look around and see goodness in this land. Yet, I know there seems to be much “hopelessness” in the eyes of voters. I ask that you direct our thoughts and our votes. I too would lose hope if I did not believe that I will see Your goodness in the land of Ontario over the next four years. I put those years into your capable hands. I place those elected into your capable hands and I look forward to seeing your goodness in our lives. Thank you for this great country and the opportunities afforded us. I thank you that our hope remains in You. AMEN

Praying For A Prosperous Destiny!

Dear Lord in Heaven as we sit on the cusp of another election, our hearts are filled with thanks. Thank you for a peace filled election process. Thank you that freedom, respect and peace has characterized the campaign. Thank-you for protection and strength you have granted the candidates. Now Lord as we look to Election Day our hearts are filled with a mixture of anticipation and wonder. While pundits try to predict the outcome of this election, at the end of the day Your hand has superintended this whole process. For this we thank you.

Now Lord as we commit the results to you, we covenant now to intercede for this province, it's leaders and legislators. We commit to the destiny you have determined for this province. A destiny of peace. A destiny of prosperity. A destiny where Your blessing will be poured out upon your people. As our leaders will attempt to face the challenge of debt, employment, education and healthcare you will give them the wisdom needed to face those challenges. We pray that as they do, that you would raise prophetic voices to stand and give to our leaders words of wisdom and knowledge, when human reasoning proves impotent. May the next four years prove to be the most dynamic, prosperous, and peaceful led, as we continue to pray, trust and believe your word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Help Us To See God's Choice

Today we are asking God to clearly show us WHO He has chosen to lead Ontario for the next 4 years.  We are asking for a shift in momentum, an increase in wisdom and an obvious demonstration that God is making His will known.  Ontario NEEDS the leader of God's choosing.  When we choose what God what God has already chosen, we align ourselves with His purposes and plans and what could be better than that?  

Pastor Garry Fess from London Ontario writes today's prayer.

Our God in heaven, we have been praying that You would use this election to accomplish Your great purposes for our province. You have a purpose and a plan for Ontario and our desire is that our provincial government and leaders would be in step with what You have prepared for us.

As candidate campaign teams are working hard to firm up support and volunteer teams, we pray today that Your favor would rest upon those whom You have prepared to serve our province. We ask that in each riding, support would shift to them and that their support would be firm. Send the necessary volunteers needed for the balance of the campaign so that work still be done would be easily accomplished.

A Prayer for Holy Spirit Empowered Leaders

Lord as we Celebrate Pentecost Sunday, we pray that the same Spirit that descended upon the first believers 2000 years ago falls upon us. May the Spirit stir up our passion for people who do not know You and may we become bold prayer-ers. May you guide us by the Spirit to vote for the people you want in power, regardless or political affiliation.

We pray that this same Spirit of God fall upon these Men and Women who are running for positions of power in this province. That you set them aside for your purpose and your passion. That they become your vessels of honour.

On this, the last Sunday before the election may you Lord be glorified in this province. May your name be praised in every church and in every household that calls itself Christian. This is your day Lord, as every day is, and this is your province may Ontario be the epicenter of a move of God that TRANSFROMS our nation. AMEN

Prayer Points For Pastors

Pastors, this is the last Sunday before the election.  Many of you will be leading your congregations in prayer for the election.  Here are some Prayer Points for pastors to use as they lead their congregations in intercession for the Province of Ontario and our election on Thursday June 12th.

This prayer time will be most significant for your church if you provide a brief preamble on the the privilege of living in a democracy that provides us with many freedoms, including the freedom to choose who will represent us politically for the next 4 years. It doesn't have to be long, but it will have a significant impact if you take the time to do it.

GIVE THANKS FOR:
A free nation and a free province
The privilege of choosing our leaders
Every candidate that has been willing to run
(personal sacrifice, hard work, concern for community, etc)
Every campaign worker and volunteer.

PRAY FOR:
Wisdom as we cast our ballot
Sensitivity to hear God speak before we do
God's blessing on every successful candidate on Election Day.
God's blessing on the leader who will serve as Premier. May God grant him/her great grace, wisdom and courage.

A Call To Take Our Stand

Pastor Jamie Shepherd wrote today's prayer.  It's a fantastic challenge that cuts to the heart of the matter.  Let's pray together!

"You Lord are still Lord of All! Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments. Lord of all the earth!

Forgive us from fleeing our responsibility in your kingdom! You have called is not to just be a sect fleeing the world, But rather a community of faith renewing the world.

Guide us this election. The same hands we lift up to You in prayer, are the hands that pick up the pen; The same eyes that read Your Word, are the eyes that read the names on the ballot. May the feet that walk us into the voting centre follow a straight path marked by your Spirit after the elections as well.

Renew Canada, with a transformed Ontario, by a surrendered me!

Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of Your kingdom. May YOUR Kingdom come and YOUR will be done!

Amen and Amen!

Give Us Leaders Like Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel and Solomon!!

As we enter Day 4 of the campaign, we are BOLDLY asking God to give us leaders with the character qualities of the heroes of the Old Testament.  We need leaders who have the capacity and depth to lead our province in these challenging times. 

We are building some excellent momentum in our prayer initiative and it will only increase as we get closer to Election Day.  God is moving!  He is at work behind the scenes and He will answer us on June 12.

 Heavenly Father in such a vital time as this we lift supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanks to you on behalf of our government leaders and for those who desire to be in authority. We pray that as a result of their wise decisions we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. We ask that you would turn the hearts of the leaders toward wisdom from above and that people from the least to the greatest will be blessed. In one week we will know who, but over the next four years we ask that you turn their hearts toward you. We ask that you release the Leadership of Moses, the Strategies of Joshua, the Strength of David, the Determination of Daniel and the Wisdom of Solomon upon the leaders of the Province of Ontario. As Believers we declare that Jesus is Lord over Ontario and over our nation.

PrayOntario - Be A Prayer NOT a COMPLAINER!

Check out this great video from my good friend Dale Sanger who is the Pastor of Harvest Church in Toronto.  He's got a great challenge for you on being a PRAYer and not a COMPLAINER. Click here to see the video.

Here's the prayer for today! 


Father we come to you in humility today. We come as your children, but we also come as intercessors on behalf of our province. We know that You raise kings up and you lower them down in accordance to your purposes and plans. You care deeply about political leaders and you care deeply about who will lead our province over the next 4 years.

Our Election Prayer Campaign

God has a plan for Ontario.  God has plans to prosper this great province. He has plans not to harm it, but to give it HOPE and a FUTURE! I'm convinced that while God has a general plan for Ontario, He also has a specific plan for Ontario.  There are things that He wants to accomplish through the lives of those HE has chosen to lead this province after June 12.  I believe that God has chosen 107 people from across this province who He has gifted, prepared and set apart to lead in a time like this.  Some are Christian, some are from other faith groups, some do not acknowledge Him at all.  It doesn't matter.  He raises leaders up and brings leaders down so that the purposes of HIS great kingdom can be powerfully and forcefully advanced according to His plans and timeline.  

God tells us He chooses leaders and that He sets them apart to lead nations, provinces and regions for the benefit of those they serve.  As you know, Ontario voters go to the polls on June 12 to choose a government.  As the church, we have a responsibility to pray that God's will would be fulfilled through that election process so that our province will prosper and be blessed. 

This is not a political initiative, this is a KINGDOM initiative where the people of God humbly stand in the gap on behalf of their province and ask God to have His way during the election.  His promise to us if we are willing to do that is to hear from heaven, forgive OUR sin and heal OUR land.  We NEED Him to do that so that our entire province can experience His goodness and blessing.

For the next 8 days, we are going to pray and ask God to have His way during this campaign.  This will be the most incredible election you have ever experienced because this may well be the first time you've ever seriously and intentionally invited God to be a part of one.  God is up to something BIG in Ontario.  Let's not miss it!

Here's the prayer for today!

God, it is with great awareness that we reflect on the freedom we have to live in a country that allows us the ability to vote. I pray that we live with a spirit of gratitude, that we never lessen our voice to know we have the freedom to stand up for what we believe; to express our voices and opinions; to stand for change and the ability to speak on behalf of injustice. May we honor the privilege of being citizens who get to vote and may we honor those who are placed into positions of power and authority over our province and our nation. I thank you that such freedom is a gift - may we never take for granted this amazing opportunity.

Welcome to PrayOntario!

Welcome to PrayOntario!

PrayOntario is devoted to praying for our MPP's in Ontario. We pray for their success and that God would give them wisdom, strength and courage as they fulfill the important role of providing political leadership to our province.

Prayer is Biblical:

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 1 Tim 2:1,2 (The Message)

As a nondenominational Christian ministry, PrayOntario fully believes that the prayers of our members can effectively shape our province.

Did you know that one of the most important prayer assignments we have been given is to pray for those in leadership. We know that God influences leaders and that praying to God impacts what happens. Therefore, our mission for PrayOntario is to encourage and motivate people to pray for our Premier, Cabinet and all MPPs in the province of Ontario.

Join us in prayer and make a difference.