Presidential Election Prayer, October 27, 2004

"How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God?...He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously---take God seriously" [Micah 6:6, 8 from The Message translation]

Mighty, Loving God:
There's a lot of talk about this being the most important presidential election in fifty years or in our lifetimes. Such assertions may be true and we ask You to guide each of us as we decide for whom to vote. Give us such an openness to You that we even willingly change our minds as we step into our polling places, if that seems to be Your will.

But God, Your Word reminds us that both now and beyond November 2, whether it's with our vote, in the ways we treat our families, by how we use the money and possessions You give to us, in the decisions we make about what to do with each day, through the causes we support, or in the agencies for which we volunteer, our call remains the same. Our whole lives are to be grateful responses to what You have done for us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Help us then, as individuals and as a nation, to embrace Your mission for each of us: to do what is fair and just to our neighbor; to be compassionate and loyal in our love; and to make You and Your desires our ultimate concern.

We pray too, God, that You will help us to see that far more important than who wins the presidency is the transformation of our lives that comes when we totally surrender to Jesus Christ.

Knowing that He has come into our world so that all who entrust themselves to Him will live with You forever, we do so now, whether as an act of renewal or for the first time. We ask You to forgive our sins and fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that whether we will be good citizens of Your Kingdom.

Finally, we pray, as Your Son directs, that You will send "workers into the harvest": faithful witnesses for Jesus who willingly share the Good News of His life-changing love with a world hungering for Him. We pray that in a world made dangerous by our sin that You will give all Your witnesses Your protection from danger and harm of all kind. Such witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit, filled with the message of Christ, will do more to transform people's lives for the better than any government or president ever could. It's when these transformations happen, we know, Lord, that we will live the call You give in Your Word in Micah.

In Jesus' Name we pray.

AMEN