[I urge … that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made]… for kings and all those in authority…
Summary: Is God really in charge? Paul’s admonition to pray for all those in authority is both a command and a test of our faith.
At this point in our meditations on Chapter Two, we have looked at how we as Christians fight, who (or what) our enemy is, the three types of prayers (petitions, prayers, and intercessions), and the meaning of being thankful. Now, instead of generally praying for all people, we are focusing on “kings and all those in authority.”
As we ponder this aspect of Paul’s letter, let’s begin by considering the relationships and perspectives in play here.
First and foremost is God:
“The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
Essentially, what Paul is asking us to do is to appeal to the supreme authority over all authorities on behalf of the people in charge of our lives.
Actually, that makes a lot of sense, especially since God has the ability to steer the “king’s heart” to favor those who please God (Proverbs 21:1).
Notice that God’s sovereignty is not conditional. God is not sovereign only over those who believe in him and serve him. Instead, God rules over all of creation. This means that even a godless tyrant is subject to the Almighty.
Perhaps it is fair to pause for a moment and ask the perennial question about “free will.” After all, if God gave us free will, how can he influence the authorities in our lives?
The answer to that is that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
If you have seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” you might remember the discussion between Toula and her mother, Maria, about Toula’s frustration with her father’s insistence that she stay and work in the family’s restaurant. She complains to her mother, not so much because her father is the “head of the house,” but because of how he is using his authority.
Toula’s mother wisely replies, “Let me tell you something, Toula. The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.”*
I suspect the same is true for human authorities, too. A man might think he is the head, but God can turn the head any way he wants.
Application: Trust God’s sovereignty.
Food for Thought: What does it say about our faith in God if we don’t trust him with our prayers, petitions, and intercessions for those in authority here on earth?
*(source: IMDb, accessed March 18, 2026)
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I think one thing it shows is that we see ourselves as our ultimate authority rather than God. A lack of prayer is a declaration that we our on the throne of our lives in place of God. It demonstrates a reliance on human strength and ingenuity over God’s sovereignty. It reveals that we don’t really think God is in control – we think we are. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes. We show that we trust in the Lord by crying out to Him on behalf of other authorities in our life. It reveals that He is the ultimate authority in our life.
Psalm 118: 9 – 14: When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14The Lord is my strength and my defense and
he has become my salvation.