Election day is finally here. Before we head to the polls to vote, let’s take some cues from the books of Daniel and Proverbs and pray.
- Pray for God to glorify his own name
O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” (DA 9:19)
What matters supremely is not who wins the election, but that God display his glory in the earth. Pray that God will do in the election whatever will most glorify his name.
- Confess our sins as a nation and personally
I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules (DA 9.4-5)
Daniel identified with his nation’s sins. Though he personally had not rebelled like the rest of his countrymen, he too was a sinner. We’ve all sinned in many ways. Let’s humble ourselves, and confess our nation’s sins and our own sins.
- Pray for God’s mercy
Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, …For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy (DA 9:17-18)
We don’t deserve godly leaders or any of his blessings, but God is rich in mercy and longs to show mercy to us.
- Pray for godly leaders
When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan (PR 29:2).
Let’s ask God to give us godly leaders who will promote righteousness.
- Thank God for his sovereign reign over rulers and nations
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings (DA 2:20-21)
God removes leaders and installs them. Whoever wins the election will do so because God has decided to place him in office.
No matter who sits in the Oval Office, our God is on his throne.
photo by Just-Us-3
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
“No matter who sits in the Oval Office, our God is on his throne.” What a perspective.
Mark, thanks for these practical thoughts. This will help steer my prayers today.
Hey there Mark!
Thanks for your thoughts this morning, again very helpful!
As you said in your post, “Thank God for his sovereign reign over rulers and nations” that’s such an assuring thought, no matter how this election turns out that God is still going to be sitting on His throne, nothing can ever take Him from that position and He is sovereign over all! No matter who sits in the great White House, God will always be on the Great White Throne! We can take great comfort in that.
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Timely post, Mark; thanks!
It was nice to see you when Tom and I passed through Indiana a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for your hospitality!
Thank you for the tips. It’s always interesting to take our cue from the Bible and the people presented in it. They’re so helpful, it’s almost as if God planned for us to use the Scripture that way.
This post could be seen as an assumption that Obama will win, but in reality it is true and relevant whether the person you hope to win is defeated or elected. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we vote, but God elects.
Hey Emily,
Isn’t it good to know God is sovereign? Thanks for commenting!
Hi Ron,
Good image – God on his great white throne – thanks for mentioning this!
Hey Tim,
Great seeing you too! Only wish we could have had more time together.
Hi Marshall,
It’s amazing how applicable Scripture is to all of our lives, huh?
Jon,
Good insight! I think we should pray this way no matter who wins the election. Great insight: we vote, but God elects – I like that!