Prayer for the U.S. Elections

There never seems to be enough time to be diligent in our choices when it’s time to vote. How can we carefully evaluate our options, the character of the people who are running for office and what they believe? The media overwhelms us with social, psychological, visual, and aural hype and litter. The election is coming up quickly. May we be diligent in our prayers.

Please pray with me:

Thank you that we still live in a nation where we can vote and express our voice by voting. We acknowledge Your Word that  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Your words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35).

You tell us in Romans 13:1:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Yet, O merciful Father, when we see what is going on in the world, in places like North Korea, China, Russia and the Middle East, we cannot understand the heinous actions. We look at the incredible blessing that You have poured out here and we are humbled. Yet, we have taken our freedom and blessing for granted. Forgive us.

We are grateful when we read Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Yet we know that this comes with a price. We acknowledge that our nation has deteriorated to greater and greater depths of sin.

In Your Word, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 You exhort us:

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Father, You have placed us here at this time. There are no details that You have not attended to, nothing that has escaped Your attention. We rest in the fact that You are the True and Living God. Truly, there is none like You. We come before You, a holy God, knowing that Your love is sure and we know that You are for us. We thank you.

Father in heaven we seem to be at a cross-roads in this nation. We are here because we have been at crossroads many times before and perhaps we were asleep. I know I was asleep. I have not been diligent. Please forgive me.

I acknowledge that I have not attended to those things I know are not from You; abortion, drugs, homelessness, indiscretion with regard to sexual practices and laws that protect these and other activities...and l have not prayed for our leaders. I have criticized them and not sought Your help in praying diligently for them. Forgive me and pour out prayers through me for them from this day forward. Give me a heart to pray for our leaders and this nation and prayers of substance that I may be found diligent and without embarrassment in the Day of Your coming.

For those who are believers who have courageously entered the political arena:
Holy Spirit, grant these people courage. In each day may the testimony of Christ be spoken without hesitancy. May their lives be an example to those with whom they meet, talk, and influence. Give them the words to speak, the emotional intelligence to handle their demeanor in a reasonable manner and tone so that others can hear. May Your Truth rise up above the din.

You gave the Apostle Paul discourse and argument that was so solid that many could understand. Grant your political servants the words, the logic, and the character so that others will see them as true leaders and follow them. Open the eyes of those who see and hear these testimonies and may they see the direction as viable, credible, and possible.

For those who are running for office:
Father, Your Word: Daniel 2:21

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Hold them strong who are Your chosen politicians. Grant them wisdom and may the hedge of protection be wide and deep. As the slandering commentary and verbal trash of untruth is unleashed through the media, separate Your chosen leaders in the minds of voters. Give voters discernment and direction to make sense of the deluge of information. May Truth rise to the top. We believe Your Word is Truth. We believe that Jesus Christ is Truth.

Grant these men and women who are Your children, a stalwart single-minded focus. May their honor and integrity be unquestionable in the minds and inner being of those who hear them.

For the families of candidates:
Father, we pray for the families of Your chosen politicians, that their health be secured. That they be shielded from the dirt and filth of the world that would speak lies and deliberately and intentionally issue hurtful words against these candidates and their families. Protect them and pour out Your Word upon them. Hold them strong and grant them a resolve to stand for what is right—as You define it. Protect them physically from disease and accident. Protect them emotionally, psychologically and spiritually and may they cling to Your Word for strength, comfort, and inner peace.

For voters:
Father, please cause the messages of Your choosing to find their way to voters. Give them an ability to hear through the riffraff to understand the true message. We ask for a hunger for substantive matters. Help us to differentiate messages that are unimportant and receive the needed information to make decisions that will stand before Christ.

We so need the leading of Your Holy Spirit! Grant us patience, and diligence in seeking Your direction and leading. Grant us ears to hear. We want to hear the Word from our Shepherd and follow it. Grant us our desire to be true followers of Christ in every way, and especially in our choices as we face these elections.

Father there are decisions that need to be made where it seems there is no win. How do we manage the choices where there is no worthy candidate? How do we make a decision? Help us to clearly hear Your leading. May we leave the election booth with peace that we have voted according to Your will.

There are many believers who can vote and do not. Father, awaken them. Cause them to be dissatisfied with this choice. May they be ashamed that they are not exercising a freedom that has been so hard won. May we be humbled by the opportunity to cast a ballot as we see those in Hong Kong who are fighting for this right. May we see this as a privilege as we observe how many people in the world do not share in this freedom. And may we not take it lightly. Humble us.

Raise us up as a voice to be reckoned with. May Your Church in the U.S. rise up from sleep. May we gather together to pray for our leaders. Establish us as a viable voice that must be recognized. We acknowledge Matthew 18:20:

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Give us opportunity to claim this promise, especially where the elections and our leaders are concerned.

Behind these candidates and this election is the very culture and security of this nation and its future. Show us how to take a stand and be established as the “Nation Under God” that You birthed. May we become people of action, beginning with this election. May we rise up en masse to stand strong for the values and direction that our founding fathers established as the root of our being. May our manner is exercising speech and action please You and be usable by Your Spirit so that others may realize that You are Truth and Justice.

For a new day in the U.S.:
Grant us a righteous anger in our prayers and may we verse them to You continually. Help us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in the expression of this anger—that the testimony of Christ not be tarnished. May the Love of Christ be evident in our lives and provide the True Light that others may see and follow.

Help us to become spiritual leaders. May we diligently study Your Word that the “new creature” in us be a beacon for those who are seeking You. Show us how to be “salt that has not lost its flavor” to a world that watches.

May we no long be content to stand on the sidelines as mere observers as the culture of the U.S. disintegrates before us. Pour out prayers through us. Fill us with the hope and enliven out spirit with Your Holy Spirit. May others know we are Christians by our love.

In Jesus’ Name and for His sake.

(Please add your prayers and support in the comments section.)