A Prayer for Godly Guidance on Election Day
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” -Proverbs 16:33
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As Christians, we can let our voting voice reflect God‘s voice and His truths for our lives and for our nation. As William J. Federer, historian and author of America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations, writes, on April 19, 1926, our 30th United States President Calvin Coolidge wrote, “When an election is so held, when a choice is so made, it…sustains the belief that the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
Federer points out that Coolidge also wrote, “I therefore urge upon all the voters of our country…that they assemble tomorrow at their respective voting places in the exercise for the high office of American citizenship, that they approach the ballot box in the spirit that they would approach a sacrament, and…make their choice of public officers solely in the light of their own conscience.”
On such a significant day, we don’t want to take too lightly how our votes influence future generations, even though some of us may have become discouraged by past election issues, in which it looks like various groups are determining the outcome for millions.
We may feel that overall our votes are falling by the wayside. Even so, to pull back and withhold our votes only serves to support the things we don’t support as Christians, the things that grieve the heart of God.
So how are we to vote led by godly guidance, and not give in to slick political advertisements, peer pressure, and propaganda?
Five Ways to Prepare Our Hearts for Voting
The following are five ways to prepare our hearts for godly guidance as we vote this Election Day.
1. Study God’s word. By studying God’s word, we will have our hearts and minds tuned to discern and hear His voice and know what is right and what is wrong. 2 Timothy 3:16-1: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2. Choose to honor God. Honoring God with our votes leads us on a godly path. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31, he instructs, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
3. Remember to support life. God gives life, and as His children, our votes need to reflect His heart by supporting and valuing life. As Deuteronomy 30:19 urges, “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
4. Seek to uphold justice. God’s word teaches us about His justice and guides us on how to vote when we apply it to the issues and policies put before us. As Isaiah 1:17 urges, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
5. Stand for freedom. Because God has freed us, we are called to vote for the issues and policies that uphold freedom for every citizen in our nation. As Jesus declared in John 8:36: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Let’s Pray
Dear Father,
As I go to vote on Election Day, lead and guide me in choosing which individuals to vote for and how to vote on the various issues and policies presented to me.
Help me to study and know Your word, so that I know Your voice when I hear it and it directs my voting.
Embolden me to honor You with my votes, choosing to vote in ways that please You.
Strengthen my heart to keep the importance of supporting and valuing life before me, being willing to choose it over death in all situations faithfully.
Give me a heart that votes to seek justice for all, both the weak and the strong. Open my eyes to see what is right and wrong, true and false, good and evil.
Help me to stand for righteousness and the freedom You give to each life on earth.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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