Four Ways to Pray for the Election
1 Timothy 2:1-4 says this about praying for our government:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In light of this command to pray, here are four possible prayer prompts for you to consider praying during this political season.
1. Pray for the Poor
Ezekiel 16:49 highlights God's serious concern for the poor when the prophet records God's words to His people:
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy."
This passage tells us that sexual immorality was not Sodom's only sin, but that the people of this city committed acts of injustice when they refused to aid the poor.
Pray that Christians would rise up to meet the needs of the poor, and that our government officials would operate out of compassion toward the poor and offer real help to those who are needy.
2. Pray for the Life of the Unborn
Psalm 139 tells us that God is at work carefully creating each individual human person from the moment of conception to birth:
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
And Proverbs 31:8 commands all of God's people to not just be against this sin, but to take action to see that the unborn are defended and loved:
"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute."
When someone chooses to kill their unborn child through abortion, it is actually an act of violence against both God and a living human person. From the moment of conception, human beings bear the image of God, and deserve the utmost respect and love.
Pray that God would raise up leaders who love all human beings from conception to natural death, and that the government-sanctioned killing of these most vulnerable citizens would end.
3. Pray for Racial Equality
Jesus gives us a visible picture of God's care for racial equality in Mark 11 when He cleanses the temple and announces to all who are present,
"And He was teaching them and saying to them, 'Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations (ethnos in Greek)'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
In Jesus's time, the temple court was to be a place where non-Jewish believers could pray and worship; however, due to their own prejudice and greed, the Jewish leaders at this time had filled this area with merchant tables, thus treating non-Jewish believers with disregard and even hostility.
Pray that God would raise up leaders who fight for racial justice and racial equality, that God would rid our country of racism, and pray that the church would be a community for all ethnicities to worship Jesus together, free from racial pride and hatred.
4. Pray against Sexual Morality & for those Participating in it
In 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul summarizes Jesus's view of sexuality when he writes,
" Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body."
God designed sex as an amazing gift to be enjoyed only between one man and one woman in the covenant of lifelong marriage. Since God is the great designer of sex and the human body, He knows what is absolutely best for us, and what will bring human flourishing. Any expression of sex outside of God's design is, therefore, sinful and destructive. Pray that God would heal the effects of our sexual immorality as a country, and help us be aligned with His design for sex for the health and flourishing of all human beings.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
In light of this command to pray, here are four possible prayer prompts for you to consider praying during this political season.
1. Pray for the Poor
Ezekiel 16:49 highlights God's serious concern for the poor when the prophet records God's words to His people:
"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy."
This passage tells us that sexual immorality was not Sodom's only sin, but that the people of this city committed acts of injustice when they refused to aid the poor.
Pray that Christians would rise up to meet the needs of the poor, and that our government officials would operate out of compassion toward the poor and offer real help to those who are needy.
2. Pray for the Life of the Unborn
Psalm 139 tells us that God is at work carefully creating each individual human person from the moment of conception to birth:
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
And Proverbs 31:8 commands all of God's people to not just be against this sin, but to take action to see that the unborn are defended and loved:
"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute."
When someone chooses to kill their unborn child through abortion, it is actually an act of violence against both God and a living human person. From the moment of conception, human beings bear the image of God, and deserve the utmost respect and love.
Pray that God would raise up leaders who love all human beings from conception to natural death, and that the government-sanctioned killing of these most vulnerable citizens would end.
3. Pray for Racial Equality
Jesus gives us a visible picture of God's care for racial equality in Mark 11 when He cleanses the temple and announces to all who are present,
"And He was teaching them and saying to them, 'Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations (ethnos in Greek)'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
In Jesus's time, the temple court was to be a place where non-Jewish believers could pray and worship; however, due to their own prejudice and greed, the Jewish leaders at this time had filled this area with merchant tables, thus treating non-Jewish believers with disregard and even hostility.
Pray that God would raise up leaders who fight for racial justice and racial equality, that God would rid our country of racism, and pray that the church would be a community for all ethnicities to worship Jesus together, free from racial pride and hatred.
4. Pray against Sexual Morality & for those Participating in it
In 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul summarizes Jesus's view of sexuality when he writes,
" Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body."
God designed sex as an amazing gift to be enjoyed only between one man and one woman in the covenant of lifelong marriage. Since God is the great designer of sex and the human body, He knows what is absolutely best for us, and what will bring human flourishing. Any expression of sex outside of God's design is, therefore, sinful and destructive. Pray that God would heal the effects of our sexual immorality as a country, and help us be aligned with His design for sex for the health and flourishing of all human beings.
About the Author:
Michael Cox is the Discipleship Pastor at Living Stones North Valleys and serves on staff for Living Stones Churches as the Art and Series Director. You can reach him at michael@lschurches.com.
Michael Cox is the Discipleship Pastor at Living Stones North Valleys and serves on staff for Living Stones Churches as the Art and Series Director. You can reach him at michael@lschurches.com.