Prayer Root Ministries -> Praying through Scripture -> Romans -> Romans 13
Scripture (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Prayer Root: Word to Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Jesus showed us, both in word and in life, how His followers are to relate to the ruling authorities of this world. He asked Peter to find the coin to pay the tax, He pointed to the image of Caesar on the coin and taught us to give what belongs to earthly rulers while remaining faithful to God, and He stood before Pilate without contempt, arrogance, or disrespect, even when His life was being judged. In all things, He revealed obedience wrapped in humility and trust in the Father.
Lord, I pray that You grant me the same heart of obedience toward the authorities in the society in which I live. Help me to understand that my ultimate allegiance is to You alone, yet that allegiance does not place me outside the laws, order, and responsibilities of the land You have allowed me to live in. Teach me to honor authority without compromising faith, and to submit without losing my devotion to You.
Give me the discipline, Father, to live a responsible and respectful life—one that follows Your commandments in such a way that goodness is visible even under earthly authority. Let my conduct be honest, my actions upright, and my spirit peaceable, so that my life bears witness to You in public and in private. May my obedience never be rooted in fear, but in reverence for You. May my respect never be forced, but freely given as an expression of faith. And may everything I do reflect that You are a God of order, righteousness, and truth.
Rooted in prayer, rejoicing in Christ.