I am Kevin Lee and I ... well, you probably already know.

1 Timothy 2:1-2:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Good words for us just days away from the election.

A lot of us spend an inordinate amount of time complaining about our elected leaders: the President, the Congress, the Statehouse, the courts, local city/county government.

I wonder what would happen if we would spend as much time praying FOR those individuals and offices as we did in complaining ABOUT them?

Reread that verse I've copied for you.

How much time does that biblical instruction allow for complaining?

So ... if we ignore this written word from God about how to respond to our government leaders, should we really expect anything from them other than chaos, in-fighting, self-promotion, and stalemate?

Maybe, just maybe, the system isn't broken.

Maybe what is broken is that we have chosen to be disobedient to God's word.

• Do you pray, "God, help them"?
• Do you pray, and intercede on their behalf?
• Do you give thanks for them?

If you do this, then there is hope for peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

If we don't do this, well then; why should we ever expect anything more?

Listen to yourself as you move through this home stretch. How many words are you praying for your leaders and authorities compared to how many words used up in complaint?

If we will not obey God's written word, why would we expect Him to answer our prayers?