Prayer must be the starting-point for all public policy.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2.1-4

Prayer is the means by which we may expect God to show us great things and mysteries we’ve never seen before (Jer. 33.3). Through repentance and prayer we may hope that the Lord will begin to heal our land (2 Chron. 7.14). Only by praying without ceasing, with brothers and sisters from many congregations and communions, continually and fervently, and with a focus on public policy and the coming of Christ’s Kingdom – only by thus praying can Christians truly hope to achieve the just and good society we seek (Matt. 6.10).

Here there is much work to be done. It seems clear today that we do not believe in such prayer. Where in your church, for example, do people pray in this way? When have you heard such prayers from the pulpit on Sunday morning? How often do prayers for such matters as we are concerned about in this study fill your own pleadings before the Lord?

We must repent of our unbelief and take up the work of prayer with greater devotion and dedication. We shall not be able to realize progress in Christ’s Kingdom, or in returning our nation to a greater experience of justice and goodness, apart from prayer.

Prayer is the starting-point for public policy. Prayer must be the sustaining power of public policy. And prayer in the form of worship will be the outcome of public policies, forged in prayer, which lead to a peaceful, godly, dignified, true, and Gospel-friendly society. As long as we continue to regard prayer as a perfunctory matter in the making of public policy, we shall not make progress toward the good society we seek. But let believers begin to unite together, lifting holy hands to the Lord continually and fervently for all aspects of public policy-making, and we will see the hands of God begin to move in our favor once again.

T. M. Moore

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