ie:missional teaching. glocalizing. living. serving. repenting. incarnating. loving. repeating.

Father,

On this important day for American society, I pray that we would not forget you. Your word says that you set up kings and you take down kings, so surely that includes our president, whether it be Barack Obama or John McCain.

Father, I pray that we would not forget your kingdom. In a day when fervent patriotism and divided politics carry most every conversation, help your children to remember that we have been called to a higher allegiance and that what happens in America does not equate to what happens in your kingdom. Forgive those of us in the United States that have convinced ourselves that your eternal plans ride on decisions that we make, forgetting that your kingdom was expanding centuries before 1776 and will continue eternally after the last copy of our constitution has disintegrated.

I ask that you would forgive us for making political preferences a basis for fellowship. If you can break down the walls between Jew and Gentile, can we not imagine that you have done so between Democrats and Republicans? Many of us know people who, if they don’t outright despise people who hold to different politics, find it extremely difficult to carry on conversations that don’t degenerate into political wrangling. May we never forget that Jesus set the pattern for us by choosing among his disciples one zealot, whose goal was to extricate Israel from Roman domination, and one tax collector, whose job was in league with the oppressors. Let us love, love all and love well.

Please forgive us for putting our hope in a political party or a president, when our hope should ever and only be in you.

Father I pray for Barack Obama, a man who seems to have no conscience toward the unborn. In his very stance on the abortion issue he betrays himself as a man not of your word, regardless of his claims of salvation. If elected, I pray that he would humble himself under your mighty hand and that you would use him, turning his heart wherever you will.

Father I pray for John McCain, a man who seems to be running on a platform he doesn’t completely believe. I do not believe that he understands the complexities facing our nation and have no hope that he would pick anyone other than “good old boys” to be around him if elected. He has no plan to stop the slaughter of the innocents. If elected, I pray that he would humble himself under your mighty hand and that you would use him, turning his heart wherever you will.

Father, I pray for the mostly unknown others who are on ballots for president across America. It is my earnest prayer that, beginning in this election and at all levels, we would begin to see the end of the two party dominant system that has polarized this country. Allow third, fourth, fifth party candidates and independents to be elected to force more reasonable and workable solutions to the problems we face.

I pray for the salvation of those who are in congress or who will be going there after this election. Place someone around them with the message of the gospel that they might come to know you and govern with wisdom.

Above all, that we your people might demonstrate the righteousness that we have received from you in every conversation we engage. The kingdoms of this world are fallen and corrupt; help us to promote the one, eternal King and the plan that he has instituted.

I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, your son.

Amen.