I hope you’re joining me in praying for our leaders:

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. (1 Timothy 2.1, 2, ESV)

In addition to government leaders, I suggested Sunday that we ought not to forget religious leaders. They can have enormous influence.

Here’s another group that we don’t always think of when we think “high positions” – business leaders. Some of them have enormous influence: think Amazon and the books it chooses to carry or not carry and YouTube with the videos it can allow or block. Twitter and FaceBook come to mind, also. These companies have increasing influence. Their leaders are truly in “high positions,” and we ought to be praying for them.

In addition, all companies have influence at least over their employees and the clients / customers they are trying to serve. We ought to include those leaders in our prayers, too.

My “word for the year” is ASK – both in its form as a simple verb, a synonym for prayer – and as an acronym: Ask, Seek, Knock from Matthew 7.7. The Lord seems to keep showing me more things to ASK for!

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7.7, 8, ESV)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints… (Ephesians 6. 18, NKJV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phlippians 4.6, 7, ESV)