Scripture is clear that Christians have certain obligations to the civil magistrate.  Their office and authority are to be honored. “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” says St. Peter.

Second, we must pay our taxes (Rom. 13:6-7, Mt. 22:15-21) and obey their legitimate and lawful commands (Rom. 13:5, Titus 3:1).  Finally we are to pray for our civil leadership.  “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Tim. 2:1-2)

Over at Baptist Press, Curt Iles writes that he learned to pray for presidents and other earthly political leaders from his grandfather:

My maternal grandfather, Sidney Plott, taught me to pray for our president. In all of my years of memory — from President Dwight Eisenhower to the end of George H.W. Bush’s term — he always prayed for the president. At every meal, he sincerely asked God’s blessings and guidance on “Our President.” It didn’t matter who occupied the White House, “Grandpa Sid” believed Scripture mandated prayer and respect (Romans 13:1), and he faithfully prayed it until the very day of his death.

Yet this text like Romans 13 has been distorted.  Here Paul is commanding believers to intercede on behalf of Caesar.  It is Christians who are a royal priesthood crying out to God on behalf of The Man.  In the Roman era intercession was a royal prerogative.  In short the claim made by Christians was seen as sedition in the eyes of Rome.

Moreover, Paul’s intent is not that we pray “Bless the president, congress, governor, and EEOC flunky.”  It is typically the case that magistrates need an understanding of justice, which necessitates a right view of man, sin and God.  In short, rather than some nebulous “blessing” they may very well need conversion or even judgment.