This Sunday I’m preaching
through 1st Timothy 2:1-8. As
is often the case, as I was preparing my message God started convicting
me. This time around it was in verse two
with a clear call to pray for our countries leaders. I wasn’t convicted so much about our current
leaders as I was the ones who are aspiring to the nation’s highest office. It occurred to me that I had not said a
single prayer for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. I’ve spent my fair share of time bashing both
of them among friends and on social media, but not a single prayer on their
behalf. So please allow me to remedy
that now.
Dear Heavenly Father, first off I would like to say
I’m sorry and ask for your forgiveness.
I have been more concerned about expressing my opinions about these two
individuals than I have been about praying for them. God I acknowledge that you created Donald and
Hillary in your image. I acknowledge
that for all the faults people may find in them, I believe they are both in the
presidential race because they desire to make our world a better place. God I acknowledge that I am a sinner just
like them and we all have fallen short of your glory. Lord, barring your divine intervention it’s
very likely that one of them will end up being our president and so I want to
lift both of them up to You. I pray that
You would draw them close to You. I pray
that You would help them to know and understand Your heart. I pray that they would follow the example You
have given us in Your son Jesus Christ, and that they would be true
servant-leaders; governing from a place of humility and not pride. Lord, would You also help them to understand
more and more what it means to be holy and set apart. I pray that you would convict them when it
comes to integrity and honesty; may they govern with clean hands and a pure
heart. Lord, I thank You that You are a
God of redemption. You have redeemed
your followers, You can redeem any of the mistakes either of these two have
made, and You can redeem the ugly spectacle this election has become. Lord, whichever of these two come into office
I pray that You would help them help us as a country to put away our anger and
dissension, and to follow You and love You as we seek to love and serve
others. In Jesus name amen.
I’m not sure if this
prayer did anything for you, but I know one thing for sure; I feel a lot better
for having written it. And let us never
forget, regardless of who wins this election, God is still sovereign and on His
throne.
