A Backseat Perspective

(ESV) 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

My daughter Carah is an amazing young lady. Along with being energetic and outgoing, she’s tremendously smart (much smarter than I was when I was her age). But my baby is learning that things in life aren’t always as easy as they appear to be. In the past, Carah has been a “back-seat driver.” Whenever her mom and I were driving, she’d comment on how she felt we needed to negotiate traffic. Now that I’m teaching her to drive, she’s realizing that driving a vehicle isn’t always as easy as it appears to be.

Like Carah, there are many people who are “back-seat drivers” in regards to others who are sitting in positions of leadership. I’ve heard more than a few people comment on what should and shouldn’t be done by others who were doing their best to lead in their particular assignments. The media makes a fortune on criticizing the decisions and opinions of the president (as well as other world leaders), government officials, supervisors, and even leaders in the church. Instead of being overly critical, Christians have the responsibility to pray for those in authority. Paul instructed his son in the ministry, Timothy, to offer “…supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…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.” (I Timothy 2:1-2, ESV)

The next time you feel the need to criticize the leadership and/or decisions of someone else, please remember two quick pieces of advice: 1) Just because a position of leadership may look easy doesn’t mean that it is; 2) You don’t know how you’d respond if you were in the leader’s shoes.

Let’s Pray: “Father, help us to pray for those in leadership positions and not criticize them, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession:

Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conqueror and not the conquered



I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I shall live and not die to declare your works



I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today

For by Your Stripes I'm healed

I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed

Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

Thank You that all things are working together for my good

And that You always cause me to triumph



This is the day that you have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

In Jesus, Name, amen