When we do not vote or pray for our leaders, that gives Satan the opportunity to put corrupt people in positions of government. Those corrupt people then have the opportunity to abuse the privilege of the positions they occupy.
There are some very important activities in the natural in which we, as Christians, should participate.

One of those activities is voting at election time. The fact that so few Christians go to the polls is shameful, particularly in a country where we can freely vote. We should make it a point to vote in every election.

We should also make sure to go before the Lord and seek Him as to whom we should vote. That way, we can make sure to elect officials who will be sensitive to the leading of God.

When we do not vote or pray for our leaders, that gives Satan the opportunity to put corrupt people in positions of government. Those corrupt people then have the opportunity to abuse the privilege of the positions they occupy. Remember that Satan is still the god of this world. He is still in charge of this world system.

So, even though God has appointed the offices or positions of the authorities that exist, the devil has the power and ability to influence the people placed in those positions. He also has the ability to reward them for listening to him, as well as for acting upon what he suggests.

We are all free moral agents. We can allow the devil to influence us to do evil, just as we can allow God to influence us to do good. So yes, because of satanic influence, and because we do not always pray as we should to let God influence people, there are some corrupt police officers.

There are some crooked politicians, and dishonest individuals in other positions of authority. But the police force and other offices of government exist for our benefit. And I will guarantee you that, even with the few "rotten apples" we hear about, not every police officer is rotten. If every police officer were corrupt, we would all be in serious trouble.

Paul goes on in Romans 13:2-4 by writing:

Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Again, I am not saying that God necessarily appoints an individual to be a police officer. I am talking about the police force in general. Now, I believe that God can place the desire in a person's heart to select a particular career.

Granted, there are people who choose a career path simply because of what they can get out of it personally or financially. These people generally do not have the welfare of society in mind when they make their choices.

But I believe that, sometimes, the Lord puts it into the hearts of people to make the career choices that they make, because a person needs an anointing to fulfill a particular job.

God's Law Or Man's Law?
I cannot emphasize this point enough: We need to continue to pray and believe God for a nation like this one. Here, we can practice our Christianity with impunity, and not have to put our lives on the line to worship God or to spread the Gospel.

However, when there is a conflict between God's law and man's law, then we are going to have to do as Peter and John did in Acts 4:19-20: "But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.'"

Jesus had given Peter and John a command, and no command of people can abrogate the command of God. It may cost some of us something to obey God, depending on where we are on this planet. However, we, as children of God, have a responsibility. We cannot allow anyone to force us to not pray, not read the Bible, or not worship the Lord.

We can very easily pay dearly if we are not careful to do what is required of us, particularly if we do not become involved in voting and what other little things we can do. If the government takes "little" things like voting away from us, there is no telling how fast the price of prayer and worship can go up.

We can see how the devil and his demons have worked through people to erode things little by little, and take God out of the fabric of society. For instance, I believe there should be prayer in the schools. Imagine if the government took away the right to freely pray anywhere! We would have a huge problem on our hands.

The same thing holds true for reading the Bible. We have a command from God to study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15). But if the conditions of the world are not right, we may have to pay an awful price to read our Bibles.

This is why Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
(vv. 1-2)

If we do not pray, then the leaders can do only what the devil leads them to do, because we will not have any influence over what happens. We may not be able to go to church, carry a Bible, or even say we are Christians.

So we need to pray, and hold up the leaders of our nation.

Not The Person, But The Office
When we pray for our leaders, we must not to allow any personal likes or dislikes to influence us. We may not necessarily like the individuals who are our leaders. However, we are not praying for the individuals. We are praying for the positions and offices those persons occupy.

When we pray, God can speak to those individuals, no matter whom they may be. He can influence them regardless of whatever doctrines they may hold.

In the book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were taken into slavery. Yet because of their steadfastness, God moved on their behalf. The Lord will cross over 27,000 people to get to one person who will dare to believe Him, and He will do wonderful things for that individual.

It therefore benefits us to remain steadfast in building up our leaders through prayer.

We cannot afford to merely sit around, criticizing "those crooks in Washington," or Los Angeles, or wherever. We need to do our part so that God can move upon the offices of government.

That way, the rights we enjoy as Christians and citizens can stay in effect. By our actions, we will ensure that we can live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and reverence.

Source: Living In Hostile Territory by Frederick K.C. Price
Excerpt permission granted by Frederick K.C. Price Ministries