As part of my Prayer Pilgrimage, at each Parish we will be lifting up prays to God for our Tasmanian Parliamentary leaders. At the beginning of each week I send out an email to the House of Assembly and Legislative Council members in the relevant electorate area that I will be visiting. The email alerts them to the fact that we will be praying for them and their electorate and to contact me if they have any prayer needs. Following is what I sent them on Tuesday:
Dear Ministers and Members of the Parliament of Tasmania As Bishop of the Anglican Church in Tasmania I will visiting every Anglican Parish, Agency and School in Tasmania during the months of June and July on my Prayer Pilgrimage. Today I will be in Claremont visiting the parish of Edge Anglican. Wednesday I will be visiting Risdon Jail and St George’s Parish, Battery Point. Thursday I will be visiting the parishes of Hamilton, New Norfolk and Wellspring (Sandy Bay) As part of the Prayer Pilgrimage we will be praying for our government and the members in that electorate area. If there is anything that is on your heart that you would like us to pray for, please do not hesitate to let my Personal Assistant know.Why do I pray for our parliamentary leaders?
Scripture exhorts us to pray for all people, noting our leaders. In 1 Timothy 2:1-6 the Apostle Paul says,
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Our Daily Bread devotional yesterday focused on Faithful Prayer. It tells the story of Emma Gray who was the cleaning lady at the White House in the USA for over two decades. During her time there she prayed for 6 Presidents on the basis of the scripture in 1 Timothy 2:2 to pray for all who are in authority. People at prayer. PTL!
No leader is beyond God’s grace when righteous people pray;
For when God’s children intercede, the Lord will have his way. – D. De Haan
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
