Prayerful Primaries

(A prayer from my book in preparation for tomorrow’s primary elections.)

Timeless God,

You have always chosen humans to whom you reveal yourself.  Some like Abraham, Moses, and David had huge national responsibilities to carry out.  Others like Ruth and Samuel walked in faith in smaller, more local ways.  Your hand upon them and so many others steered your people from the time of the ancients until now.  And we need you to continue to steer and guide your people.  Specifically, we need men and women in political office that will seek your guidance and your heart for this nation.  We need quality, righteous, men and women who have the skills and heart for good governance.  From the local and county levels to the federal level, we pray that you would call people into campaigning and cause them to be elected into office so that they can serve those they govern.  May their hearts be soft toward you so that they can hear your voice and walk in your ways.  We pray they are not focused on gaining money, self-aggrandizement, success, gaining power, or using their position for influence or wealth.  Instead, may they be continually seeking you so that they know your heart for the decisions they make and can be part of a system of good governance. 

Thank you for being the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Thank you for your timeless words of wisdom to us, your People in your Church.   Holy Spirit, guide us into your Truth and help us to know what is Truth in this world.  Help us to remember that our first allegiance as Believers is to your Truth and your Kingdom, not to patriotism, jobs, friends, or even family.  Help us to vote for candidates whose policies will not inhibit the work of your Church in this world.  Help us to vote for candidates who, both in words and in deeds, support free speech, free association, and free practice of religion.  And give us boldness to encourage others to vote in such a way the Church can be freed to continue her mission in this world. We know that your timing and your ways are perfect and so it is not an accident that we were born into this era, to pray in these circumstances, and to serve in your Church.  Help us to pray with confidence, knowing our prayers will be heard.  We pray that those elected into political office will not hinder or prohibit your Church, but will encourage and even support your work through your people to make disciples, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.  

In the powerful name of Christ we pray. Amen.

(Esther 4:14, John 16:13, Eph. 4:15, Micah 6:8, 2 Chronicles 7:13-16, Romans 13:1, Matthew 20:26-28, Isaiah 35:5, 2 Cor. 4:4, 2 Chronicles 7:13-16)

“The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid “dens of crime” that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice.” from The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis