Election Season Prayers - 2016
The tone and temperament
of this election season are bringing me to pray more, which is not a bad thing.
But this brings me to ask myself often, what ought I and other Christians to
request? What should we seek after? How should we approach the throne of grace
as we yearn for mercy and grace to help in our time of need? The following are
some suggestions that I have pulled from the various versions of the Book of
Common Prayer, and others I have penned myself. Use them as freely as you like;
share them as freely as you dare. Mike.
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O eternal God, through whose mighty
power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we
and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in
righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer).
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O God, you have shown us what is good,
and what you require of us; that we are to do justly, to love mercy, and the
walk humbly before you. Guide us through this election that we, the electorate,
and those seeking to be elected, will be a people who do justly at home, in the
business world, the courtrooms, the legislative halls, and the executive
offices; that we would be a nation who loves mercy, who seeks to work it out in
all of our actions and decisions. And that we, the governed and the governing,
would always walk humbly before you. Have mercy on our nation, for the sake of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Prayerfully reflecting on Micah 6.8)
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Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in
every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many
listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the
heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book
of Common Prayer).
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Merciful God, your Scriptures warn us
for our good with these words; “A
tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” For
generations we have voted for programs, laws and politicians out of a heart
dripping with envy, jealousy and greed, and now it feels as if the bones of our
country are rotting. Angry that others were prospering, we have pushed for
heavier taxation, consoling ourselves with “they can afford it; they don’t have
a right to so much money. How dare they!” Jealous that some have better
privileges and advantages, we have yearned for them to be dragged down to our
level. Greedy for our own personal peace and affluence, we have clamored for
greater and heavier dependence on governmental safety nets and securities. We
have increasingly been looking to our civil authorities (and others) as if they
were gods or demi-gods who should be able to fix every catastrophe, ailment and
trauma; and if they don’t (because they can’t) we bewail the injustice of it
all and blaspheme them for their inadequacies. O God, we are a nation of
idolaters, and your own people in this land have “stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as
their fathers taught them.” O God! Have mercy on us; forgive us; heal us;
restore us, and we shall be saved! Fill us with tranquil hearts as we prepare
to vote, that we may rest in you, casting off envy, jealousy and greed, and
vote with an eye to glorifying you and enjoying you forever; through Jesus
Christ your Son. Amen.
(Prayerfully reflecting on Proverbs
14.30 and Jeremiah 9.14)
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Almighty God, who created us in your
image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with
oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it
in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the
glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (Book of Common Prayer).
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"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to
come! Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true
are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify
your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for
your righteous acts have been revealed." We bow before you knowing
that you have cared for us and will continue to do so. Your might and majesty
are far above and beyond our comprehension or conceptions. We acknowledge and
admire your works of providence, whereby your most holy, wise and powerful
preserving and governing of all your creatures and all of our actions is to
your glory and to our good. Confident in you who promised “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” we boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what
can man do to me?" Therefore, help us to rise up trusting you, and to
“build houses and live in them; plant
gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take
wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear
sons and daughters; multiply …, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of
the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf,
for in its welfare you will find your welfare." O God, may “justice roll down like waters, and
righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” And may we, your people, be
those who humble ourselves under your mighty hand knowing that in due time you
will raise us up; and may we cast all of our cares on you who cares for us. Now
to “the King of the ages, immortal,
invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(Prayerful reflection on Revelation 4.8,
15.3-4; Westminster Shorter Catechism 11; Hebrews 13.5-6; Jeremiah 29.5-7; Amos
5.24; 1 Peter 5.6-7; 1 Timothy 1.17)
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O Saviour of the world, who by thy Cross
and precious Blood hast redeemed us; Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech
thee, O Lord. Amen (Book of
Common Prayer).
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