Lord God, you truly are the sovereign king of all and we know that there is no king, ruler, president, dictator, prime minister, governor, or mayor ruling unless you have appointed it. You are sovereign over the movements of peoples, the rise and fall of nations, and you are sovereign over the leaders that lead them. “Your dominion is an everlasting dominion, and your kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34)

And so together we offer this prayer trusting that you will work and do according to your wise plan, and that’s ultimately what we desire.

Prayer for Leaders

We pray for candidates running for office - for president and vice president, senators and representatives, secretaries and treasurers, and judges - that you will grant wisdom and, like Solomon prayed, “an understanding mind to govern your people, that they may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). 

We pray that whomever you appoint would surround themselves with an abundance of wise counselors that propose discerning solutions to complex domestic and global problems.

We pray they would be peacemakers who bring together people from different perspectives, who are honest and reject bribes, and who represent and stand for the cause of the poor and oppressed.

Prayer for Laws

We pray over amendments and propositions being considered this week. We know these are complex and it’s hard for us to get the full picture, so please give us discernment - and we pray that laws would be passed that look and feel more like your kingdom on earth and the way things are done in heaven. May you establish for us regulations and statues that are for our good and for our flourishing. And we ask that you remember and protect those in society who aren’t justly treated and don’t have a voice - the poor and needy, widows and orphans, foreigners and sojourners - and any group of people who right now are mistreated, brokenhearted and crushed in spirit.

Prayer for the Nation

We ask you to bless our nation. You know what areas of our nation are experiencing healing and renewal, and which are broken and corrupt. We pray for unity and peace among enemies. We pray for love to abound in the face of division. We ask that you pour out your Spirit on all flesh and bring new life in our midst.

We know this is only possible in as much as Christ is known and his ways become our ways, and so ultimately we pray that Christ would be known and received and treasured in our nation and everywhere.

Prayer for the Church

Finally, we pray for our own hearts and for your church. We know we have an opportunity to honor you, not just in the way we vote but in the way we treat those with different views and political opinions. May we, your people, approach this election and the weeks following with a spirit of humility, not assuming our opinions are infallible, but knowing we don’t have everything right. May we extend a hand of brotherly love to those with different views and lead the way in demonstrating acts of love and unity towards all. Give us the supernatural ability to see all people as people made in your image and facing the same problems and challenges that we face in a broken world.

May your church be a people who share our privilege and prosperity with those who have less, may we live like people whose treasure is in heaven, and may we declare the good news of Jesus in every season.

Thanksgiving

Thank you, God, that we live in a place where we’re free to worship without fear of being reprimanded. Thank you that we have more than enough. Thank you that we have a formal voice in the direction of our society. Thank you that in Christ we can rest in times like this and put all our hope in Jesus and the kingdom you have established and promise to bring when you return.

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” - Colossians 1:16-20

Amen.