Ed Marcelle

Election Prayer

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6

A friend had told me of the rollercoaster he has ridden in this election cycle. Primary expectations unmet, attempts to get behind a reaming candidate, and arguments & divisive discourse even with those close to him. It was not unfamiliar territory to me, or to many with whom I have privately spoken about this election cycle.

He told me he was putting away political discussion and making prayer for the nation, “for kings and those in authority,” his daily focus. He told me he had written out a prayer and asked if I would read it and give him any thoughts or feedback. My only one was to ask if I could share this with friends. Here is the text of a thoughtful, biblical, reliant prayer to the Lord for this nation:

Dear Lord,

You, by Your strength and compassion, brought many people to a new land. Our fathers acknowledged Your power and sought Your guidance and intervention. You heard their prayers. You gave birth to a nation, as Your servant Abraham described – one conceived in liberty, though not for all.

This new nation enslaved a people from a distant land for the sake of profit and ease. Although these intentions were evil, You used this evil to form a people who were unseen, unheard, and forsaken into a people who were saved from their sins and given eternal freedom and eternal life. You rightly punished the nation for this horrible sin with a devastating civil war. Nevertheless, You preserved for us a future.

You called every nation and race to inhabit our land and to build wealth and strength and power in unimaginable ways. Despite these blessings, we continued to sin. We have permitted and endorsed and celebrated gross sexual immorality, calling evil good. We have refused to repent. We have slaughtered our children by the millions and have refused to repent. We have cast You out of places of learning and have refused to relent. Our government has refused to pray to You and to seek your mercy and guidance. We have refused to rely on You. Instead, we have relished our recalcitrance. We have abandoned You, but You have not abandoned us.

The days grow short and the situation is desperate for our nation. Evil people and evil powers control the media and the education of our children. There is no human way to overcome these dark forces that hate You. We deserve the fate that is about to befall us. Still Lord, we know that You are a God who loves mercy. We cry, “Lord, have mercy.”

Through the intercession of one righteous man, You were willing to spare Sodom from destruction if ten righteous people could be found. In this Country there are men and women who humble themselves daily to You. This nation still protects the sons and daughters of Abraham and the land of Israel. There are men and women who called themselves after your name, who seek first Your Kingdom.

Protect your servants. Stop the darkness of deception. Confine, silence, and expose what is evil. Let all the people hear the truth unabated with the same vigor, repetition, and voracity that evil has foisted deception upon us. Strengthen your servants. Set their hearts and mind to hear and understand the Truth. Grant them courage and grace to repent of sin and to rely on You.

Finally, Lord, bless the people on Election Day. Let them vote without fear. Let Your will be done. God bless the United States of America for our protection of Israel, for the people who are called by Your son’s name, and for the glory found in Your mercy.

Lord, we are Your servants. You lead us. Help us to follow You as we move forward in this nation in which You, through the unrelenting power of sovereignty and providence have landed us. Let our crossroads drive us more toward the cross of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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