Pray For God’s Will In Election
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, …”
-- 1 Timothy 2:1-3
This election season just seems to drag on. I will be so glad when it is done, though I do wonder if it will be done quickly and finally. It all just seems so bitter.
Some of the comments from my Christian friends seem so hateful. They are praying for a specific candidate, certain that he is the one. Yet I’ve not heard them asking God for His opinion. I don’t hear them asking that God’s will be done and not their own.
We are to pray for all of our leaders, whether we agree with them or not. The Bible doesn’t tell us to only pray for the leaders we agree with or voted for. If anything, sometimes I feel we should pray even more diligently for those leaders with whom we disagree.
We also must remember that it is impossible to know the heart and soul of someone we’ve never met. Some have determined that one candidate is more “Christian” than the other. Others believe that one candidate belongs to a cult. Still others say one candidate professes one faith but hold another one in his heart.
The only one who knows is God. He alone knows all of our hearts. We can debate it to death -- and many have -- but we still won’t know. These men are people we likely will never even meet. How could we possibly know their hearts? And why do we claim that we somehow do?
We want to believe that we know best but we don’t. We have no way of knowing what the future holds. We can only turn it over to the One who does know what is best, who is best, for this job that is so difficult and fraught with political landmines.
The job of President of the United States carries a great deal of power and prestige. It also comes with a burden that ages the men who wear that mantle. Look at their graying hair. Every one. Look at the wrinkles. Every one. The burdens are great.
The political drama that is Washington really drags the purpose and practical achievements of anyone down. It is an elite club focused more on self that the average person. Truth that hurts. Truth we’d prefer to deny.
I don’t know who the American people will elect as president. But I know that I’ll be praying for them both in the weeks to come. I’ll be asking God to choose the best person. And I’ll be committed to praying and supporting whomever gets the nod because it’s what God has called us
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