Praying for the upcoming elections (pt. 2)

Contrary to what some may say or believe, the mid-term elections will not determine the future of the United States.  To be sure, the elected officials will have a significant impact.  But God is ultimately in control.

A large part of how God controls the affairs of men is through the prayers of his people.  In fact, God has repeatedly called his people to prayer for their country:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May those who love you be secure.

May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels. ”

For the sake of my family and friends,

I will say, “Peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

— Psalm 122:6-9

The United States is not God’s chosen people as Israel was, but the principle of praying for the country still applies.

In response to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple, God promised his mercy when his people humbled themselves, repented of sins, and prayed:

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” — 2 Chron 7:13-14.

When the Jews were threatened with potential extermination under King Xerxes, Queen Esther called for a 3-day fast prior to her approaching the king to plead for the lives of her people (Esther 4:15-17).

In addition, we see multiple instances of God’s people praying and repenting in times of trouble – see Nehemiah 1 (Nehemiah’s prayer) and 9 (corporate confession and prayer), Ezra 9-10 (Ezra’s prayer and corporate confession), and Daniel’s prayer of confession of the nation’s sins (Daniel 9).

All of these prayers were answered.  And God will continue to answer the prayers of his people on behalf of their country.  With division and even violence at its highest level in decades in the United States, our best hope for healing is to invite the intervention of our God.

With three days remaining until the mid-term elections, which are destined to be some of the most contentious elections in memory, now is the time for God’s church to plead for his will to be done.  Now is the time for his people to demonstrate unity, grace, and peace.

At the recent National Day of Prayer Leaders’ Summit, one of the leaders announced that she was feeling called to an “Esther fast” (not eating or drinking for three days in order to focus on prayer for her people), starting on Sunday and running through the elections on Tuesday night.  If God so leads you, how about joining in?