“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

I am praying for our President this morning. I am also praying for governors, mayors, and all elected and appointed officials.

I am pulling out all the stops and utilizing all means to lift this leader: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanks.

This is the same prayer arsenal that Paul urges first, for all people.

Peterson translates it this way, "Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know."

Barack Obama, a man vilified by so many of my brethren, would come under the category of "kings and all who are in authority." Kings included Nero who was running rampant persecuting the church, burning Rome, and blaming Christians. Our President is no Nero. In fact, he is a brother in Christ.

It included all in authority, (και παντων των εν υπεροχη), "and all them that are in high place."

It is for these that Paul gives us a reason to pray. The rationale is:

• That we might live a quiet life, literally, "tranquil" – and that is without "tranquilizers."  Our goal is not to be caught up in a whirlwind of human turmoil and political animosity. Our goal is not to stirring up trouble in the worldly sense or to be stirred up. It is to lead a quiet, simple life. It is to have inner tranquility amidst any turbulence than may come.
• That we might live a peaceable life is also part of the rationale for prayer. This has to do with stillness. One cannot contemplate when one is caught up in contention. We are not ultimately subject to outer circumstances, but they can disturb us. Prayer for all people and those in authority can often still the storms.
• Godliness is is the goal of the quiet and peaceable life. In classical Greek, it is "personal piety in the fulfillment of human relationships." It comes to mean, in the New Testament, the inner piety that is due to God. While our inner life is not subject to outside circumstances, those circumstances can sometimes shake and startle us. We can pray for these circumstances and those who influence them.
• Finally, we pray for others that we might be freer to practice reverence. σεμνοτητι is derived from the word for gravity, but can be translated "dignity." what we get out of this kind of praying is dignity.

Politics is becoming less dignified in some circles by the minute. Popular commentary has become strongly influenced by the forces of entertainment and bombastic outcry. Assumptions are exaggerated; pretensions are generalized; vitriol is homogenized – and let loose on the Internet.

We lamblast Congress, the Supreme Court, the President, the military, the police, the mayor, the governor, the legislature, and our next door neighbors. Seldom is there heard a clear and compassionate call for prayer. Our excuse for criticizing is often rooted in a sense of threat to our lifestyle and our ability to live out our piety in peace.

Paul says that living out our piety in peace is a worthy goal … but that the means to that end is prayer. If we pray two things may change, first our circumstances, but more importantly, ourselves.