Prayer for the City

This devotional is written by Sian Dixon. Sian is a civil servant, wife to Tom, Mum to Jacob and Theo, living and working virtually (for now!) in Ealing.

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.

Today I'd like to encourage you to pray for the Government and in particular for those who live and work most closely with our country's leaders. We all rely on people around us to make good decisions, to be the best version of ourselves, to grow and learn, and to stay hopeful and encouraged when times are tough. My experience of working with Ministers in Government is that it can be quite lonely, and that Ministers rely hugely on those around them for advice and support in all areas of life.

Another version (King James) of the same passage puts it: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

That verse rings particularly true given the Covid pandemic, where I think we have all felt that we are relying on our Leaders to make the right decisions to keep us safe. We have also seen how much our Leaders need those with strong scientific and health expertise to make those sometimes really difficult decisions.

Please join me in praying for the families, friends, special advisers, private secretaries, senior officials, experts and others who work closely with our country's leaders in Government. That they would give wise counsel, help keep us safe and that they would come to know and trust in God. Amen.