Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
(Psalm 146: 3-5 NIV)
Pray. Research. Pray. Vote.
Recently, most of our USPS mail has been angry political flyers, and most of the ads on YouTube and other platforms are caricatures, gross exaggerations, or downright lies. I don’t know about you, but I will be very, Very, VERY glad when this “political cycle” is over. Every two years we put ourselves through months of candidacies, primaries, more campaigning, and rotten publicity, only to have to do it again two years later. (I’m including midterm elections, too, as the state-wide office holders are also important.) By this point in the process, those who think election season is like watching two rival sports teams square off are looking forward to Tuesday night. The rest of us are ready for it to be over. Exhaustion? Weariness? Numbness? Seeming hopelessness? All of the above.
But GOD.
Let us persist in prayer. Let us not grow weary in interceding for this nation, her people, and this election process. Let us hope in the Lord and draw upon the strength of God, the wisdom of God, and the peace of God as we face these days. Let us continually ask, seek, and knock on God’s prayer “door,” knowing that our prayers are heard and answered. May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in our believing, and may we overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray. Research. Pray. Vote. Pray more.
It matters.
All Powerful God,
All praise to you, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory! You are righteous and holy, perfect in all your ways. Your grace and mercy to us are boundless, and we praise you for your wisdom for and kindness to us.
As our nation finalizes the voting tomorrow, we pray that…
– you would continue to pour out your Spirit on this electorate so your will is done in these elections
– your wisdom would influence our choices of candidates for each and every office
– you would cause to be elected men and women after your own heart who seek your wisdom in their governing decisions
– there would be no voter fraud, no voter intimidation, and that each valid vote would be accurately counted
– you would prevent any evil that seeks to stir up dissension, riots, or worse and that your peace would prevail
– your angel armies would protect each and every candidate from any threat or harm, and any of the enemy’s lies, spells, incantations, or other word curses would be totally rebuked and never alight
– accurate election results – especially for the office of President and national Congress – would be known by Wednesday evening
– you would knit together this nation – that we would be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
– you would heal wounds in your Church which are a result of this strife and anger in our political system
– you would help us live out our calling to be one with you as you are one with the Father
– you would help us live as people whose hope is not in any human being, but in only you – our Lord God
In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen and Amen.
I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are. – Jesus (John 17:11 AMP)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NIV)
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV)
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10 NIV)
[Adapted from November 7, 2016 post.]