A Prayer for the National Election

A Prayer for the National Election

Posted by Bishop Ken Carter (Florida Conference, The UMC) on October 23, 2012.

Almighty and gracious God:

You are the source of every blessing,

The judge of every nation

And the hope of earth and heaven:

We pray to You on the eve of this important national election.

Call to mind the best that is within us:

That we live under God

That we are indivisible,

That out of many, we are one,

That liberty and justice extend to all.

We acknowledge the sin that runs through our history as a nation: 

The displacement of native peoples,

the disregard for life,

racial injustice,

economic inequity,

regional separation. 

And yet we profess a deep and abiding gratitude

for the goodness of ordinary people who have made sacrifices,

who have sought opportunities,

who have journeyed to this land as immigrants

and strengthened its promise in successive generations,

who have found freedom on these shores,

and defended this freedom at tremendous cost. 

Be with us in the days that are near. 

Remind us that Your ways are not our ways,

that Your power and might transcend every nation,

that You are not mocked. 

Let those who follow Your Son Jesus Christ be a peaceable people

in the midst of division. 

Give us a passion for peace, justice and freedom

that breaks down walls of political partisanship. 

Grant us wisdom, 

grant us courage

for the facing of this hour

and the living of these days.