"When it is in your power,
don’t withhold good from the one it belongs to.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.
Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,
for he trusts you and lives near you.
Don’t accuse anyone without cause,
when he has done you no harm.
Don’t envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways;
for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend to the upright.”
Philippians 3:10-12 NIV
Reflection
Through July, we are praying for the people in government. ‘Government’ always brings the to mind the people in news clips, making big speeches, wearing suits and ties, walking in and out of the iconic government buildings around Washington D.C.
We earnestly pray for these very public figures, whose names are spoken over dinner tables and on news shows.
However, the handful of people who are featured in the media do not make up the entire government – far from it! They are a tiny percentage of the people who dedicate their lives to serving in government. As we intercede for all areas of government, we must understand the full scope of what we are praying for.
There are 2.25 million civilian employees of the U.S. federal government, and 20.3 million people who are employed by state and local governments, per the Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even the people who calculated and tallied these numbers are government employees! Their efforts and excellence allow us to pray specifically and strategically for the roughly 22.6 million Americans who make up our federal, state, and local government.
These millions of people keep our nation running. They build and repair roads and bridges, they advocate for victims in the justice system, they care for the elderly, the homeless, and abandoned children. They ensure laws are enforced, they organize response efforts to natural disasters, and ensure the mail system is running.
If these workers at every level were suddenly gone, their absence would have severe consequences for our nation, and would be felt deeply in each county and community in our country. The services and upkeep that we rely on daily would come to a halt.
These government workers can often be demoralized and discouraged, as well as underappreciated and overcriticized by the public they serve. These public servants can be easy targets for people to take their frustration out on, even as they often work in understaffed offices and make great efforts to fulfill all that is asked of them.
While we are free to critique the agencies that we are displeased with, we must never lose sight of the people among the policies.
We can pray these verses from Proverbs over the millions of government workers, asking God to give them generous spirits to help the public when it is within their power to give help, to be motivated every morning to work diligently to bless their communities and neighbors, and to always conduct their business and tasks in a way that is upright and righteous.
Our ability to have Kingdom impact on the government as a whole is measured by our ability to build relationship and minister to the individual government leaders and workers God has placed within arm’s reach of each of us. We enter their offices or talk to them on the phone from a ministry mindset, walking and talking as ambassadors of Christ. We speak with grace, compassion, truth, and patience. We take a genuine interest in their day and ask how we can pray for them. Even if they were unhelpful in regard to the business purpose we intended to address, God had a missional purpose for the meeting or conversation.
While we will probably never meet the national government leaders we watch on TV, we will absolutely meet and interact with state and local government leaders. They are our neighbors across the street, our family members, fellow church members. They go to the same grocery stores we do, and their children and grandchildren play on the same playgrounds and sports teams as ours.
Our neighborhoods and communities are full of the people who make up our government, and each moment of interaction that we get is an opportunity from God to minister and shine the light of Christ into this important area of influence!
Will you please join me in prayer?
Lord, I left up the 22.6 million people who make up our government. I lift up Your word over them, from Proverbs 3:27-32, asking that You would bless these workers with generosity and diligence. Protect our public servants from those who would seek to bring harm to them or their families and protect their hearts from discouragement. Lord, lead them to conduct all of their business and responsibilities with honesty and righteousness. I pray that You would soften any hearts that are hardened or jaded – use me Lord, that the flame of the Holy Spirit within me would shine as a light to any hearts walking in darkness. Teach me to overflow with gratitude toward these diligent workers, and to respond to them in a manner that honors the Prince of Peace even when I become frustrated. Open my eyes to see the open doors You give me to make a Kingdom impact on government leaders. In Jesus name, amen.
Peace and Blessings,
Amy Parks
Communications Director
