7 Bible Prayers for this Election

Elections always present opportunities for Christians to pray, but perhaps none more than this current season, in which one presidential candidate has survived an assassination attempt, another is currently being pressured by his own party to withdraw his candidacy, and a third candidate from a storied political family is running a dark horse campaign. And that’s not even to mention the numerous US Senate, House, state, and local elections.

It may be there has never been a greater need for God’s people to pray for the various candidates and issues that will be on ballots this year. However, you may never have approached an election with more consternation and confusion. Should I pray for this candidate to win? Or this one to lose? Should I pray for change? Progress? Mercy? Judgment?

Such times tend to remind me that my perspective and priorities are woefully inadequate to inform and guide my prayers. But God’s Word, on the other hand, can supply the wisdom I lack and the inspiration I need to pray well in even the most confusing times. So, in that spirit, let me suggest seven biblical prayers to offer for this election, whatever may come to pass:

1. Affirm God’s sovereign wisdom and power

The Bible says:

[God] controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings (Daniel 2:21, NLT).

So pray, “God, exert your control over the events of this election; remove and install leaders according to your “good, perfect, and pleasing” plan (Romans 12:2, NIV).

2. Pray for the candidates and their families and friends

Every candidate, regardless of party or position, has family and friends who struggle and stress with them. So pray for the candidates and the people who love them, perhaps using Psalm 67:1 as a guide:

God, be merciful to us and bless us;

look on us with kindness (Psalm 67:1, GNT).

So pray, “God, be merciful to those who are running for office and those who love them; bless them and look on them with kindness, win or lose.”

3. Ask for wisdom for everyone who votes

Isaiah’s prophesied about the coming Messiah:

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2, NIV).

So why not pray, “Holy Spirit, rest on every person who votes in this election. Send the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord on everyone who casts a ballot.”

4. Pray for justice and righteousness to prevail in nation, state, and local elections.

The prophet Amos prayed in his place and time:

Let justice roll on like a river,

righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24, NIV).

Regardless of your political leanings, you can echo that prayer: “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream, through my neighborhood, city, state, and nation.”

5. Pray for God’s will to be done

The stronger our preference for one result or another, the more likely it is that we will pray for our will to be done in the election. But Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is always a wise and helpful way to pray:

“Let your will be done rather than mine" (Matthew 26:39, GWT).

6. Pray for God’s people to act wisely

The Apostle Paul wrote:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV).

So pray, “God, let your people participate in this election and respond to the election results not in a spirit fear and timidity, but in a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.”

7. Ask for the faith to see God at work in the election results

To people who had no voice in selecting their civil leaders, Paul wrote:

There is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God (Romans 13:1, NIV).

So pray, “God, help me to see Your hand in the results of this election, even as I remember those people around the world who have no voice and no vote. Let my reaction to this election reveal my faith in You and my awareness of my privilege and responsibility as a citizen.”

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