Many people feel it is important to pray for government and leadership. But how do we do that? And given the magnitude and complexity of the issues involved, can we really expect our prayers to be effective?
Ananias, an early Christian in Damascus, must have faced questions like these when Saul of Tarsus came to his city “breathing out threatenings and slaughter” against members of the new faith (see Acts 9:1–20). The Jewish high priest had given Saul authority to bind them and take them to prison.
No doubt Ananias and other Christians were praying for protection as well as doing what they could to avoid Saul. Then the Lord appeared to Ananias and said, “Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth.” Here, the phrase “the Lord” signifies the Christ, or Truth—the message from God to humanity. God was commanding Ananias to go and meet Saul.
