Our Father in heaven,
We come to you on this Election Day with a prayer for our nation. In a year of unprecedented levels of uncertainty, chaos, fear, and anger —family and neighbors are more divided than ever. Our religious practices (or lack thereof), divisive politics, and social media echo chambers have eroded the moral fabric of our society. People no longer disagree with respect and civility. People are pridefully unwilling to listen, learn, or compromise for the common good. Injustice and sin are rampant — fear and anger are overwhelming. It feels like the darkness is swallowing up the light. Will this somehow end after the election? Will “we the people” find a way to come together and heal?
Father, as a nation, we confess that in many ways we have rejected you. We have not followed your ways. We have put our hope in the economy, government, science and technology, presidents and judges, social justice movements, and even in freedom itself in your place. Please forgive us. Forgive our pride, our foolishness, our indifference to the poor, and our disregard for our neighbor. Forgive us for trusting anyone or anything in your place. Please help us to turn toward you as a people, as a nation. Have compassion on us; deliver us from the darkness of today. Sweep us into a spiritual awakening such that we’ve never seen before. Only you, in your sovereign grace, can bring the healing, justice, peace, and life that we long for. We trust that you will — in your timing and wisdom.
Father, would you grant our governing leaders — including our president, senators, congress, judges, governor, and mayor — faith, wisdom, truth, and courage. We pray that they would be effective in restraining evil and flourish in working for the common good. Protect them and provide for their needs. Help them to be models of civility, goodness, righteousness, and love.
And finally, Father, would you empower us, your people, your church, to be salt and light in this dark world? Please help us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sanctify us, Lord. Purify us to be men and women who radiate the beauty and glory of the image of God into the world as we love our neighbors as ourselves. Help us to love them as Christ loved us — sacrificially and wholeheartedly, in grace and in truth.
We love you, Father. We give thanks to you now (no matter who wins the day), for you are good, and your love endures forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
