Prayer for our Country

"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[b] whether it be to the emperor[c] as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. - 1 Peter 2:13-17

Prayer from the 1906 Presbyterian Common Book of Worship

Almighty God, King of kings, and Lord of lords, from whom proceed all power and dominion in heaven and earth; most heartily we ask you to look with favor upon your servants, the President of the United States, the governor of the state, and all others in authority. Give them the spirit of wisdom, goodness, and truth; and so rule their hearts, and bless their endeavors, that law and order, justice and peace may everywhere prevail. Make us strong and great in the fear of God, and in the love of righteousness; so that being blessed of you, we may become a blessing to all nations, to the praise of the glory of your grace, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Envious of the Wicked

When things aren't going well, I often share the pessimism of the psalmist:

For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Psalm 73:3

But in that same chapter, God provides the hope that He is just and good:

But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their end.
Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin. (16-18)

We must be confident that the wicked will be punished for their ways, but God's people will find peace and utter contentment.