Pray, Vote, Pray Some More

K and I were in line at 6:40 this morning to vote. I have voted in all elections since I turned 18, regardless if they were "just" local elections or the big ones. I grew up in a home where voting was taken very seriously. There has been so much bloodshed and sacrifice so that we might have the freedoms to vote, how can you take that for granted?

At church on Sunday, our pastor talked about our job as Christians. Not only should we be voting today, but our job doesn't end there. We need to pray for our elected officials, regardless of whether or not we voted for them they represent us now and our country, state, county, city. They need our prayers. These are some prayers from the sermon:

(Proverbs 8:15) Father, guide our government officials, that they may use wisdom to lead well and to make fair laws.

(Daniel 2:20-22) Praise Your name God, forever and ever, for You have all wisdom and power. You control the course of world events; You remove kings and set up other kings. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. You reveal deep and mysterious things and know what lies hidden in darkness, though You are surrounded by light.

And this from the Billy Graham web site:
"...we should remember that God calls us to pray "for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). I'm glad your pastor prays for our leaders, because they need it.Does it make any difference? Let me answer that by asking you another question: Have you ever asked yourself how much worse off the world would be if we didn't pray? God answers prayer, and even when we can't see it, He still is at work. Yes, we live in a world that is filled with danger and evil—but if God's people neglected to pray, our world would be a much worse place.Evil is real—and evil is real because Satan is real. But God is also real, and by His Spirit He restrains Satan from doing even more evil. The Bible says that "the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way" (2 Thessalonians 2:7).Pray for our leaders, as well as the leaders of other nations. Pray that God will give them wisdom and will even overrule them when they go astray. Most of all, pray that God will help you and your family to be faithful in living for Christ and praying for our world. "

Amen.