The most important decision you will make on Election Day

It’s probably not a word for everyone, but – regardless of your religious tradition, if you believe in God and in prayer – the most important decision regarding the elections you won’t be the one who gets your vote. The most important decision will be to start your day with prayer.

The old saying is true, “religion and politics make strange friends,” but when it comes to being a person of faith, your belief system should drive your politics, not the other way around.

If you listen to experts and politicians, you might think that the future of humanity depends on who will be elected to the highest office on our land, but as Pastor Max Lucado likes to say, “We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who the future holds.”

A man fills out a ballot at a voting booth on May 17, 2022 in Mount Gilead, North Carolina. (Getty Images)

With this little nugget of wisdom, prayer opens the door to the kind of direction and wisdom we all need when we step into the voting booth.

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What should we pray for – earlier voting? Take a a replica of King David in the Hebrew Scriptures – “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” (Psalm 25:4-6).

This little prayer says a lot, doesn’t it? If we decide who gets our vote without consulting the One who put us on planet earth, then our vote is based on the powerless wisdom of the man in the mirror. But if we first seek the guidance of the Almighty, it is no hyperbole to suggest that we have the opportunity to enter into a kind of divine partnership with the destiny of our nation.

And if “my hope– to use the words of David – there is “all day” in God, then this is correct because for people of faith their hope should not be primarily in party, politics or politics.

So before you make a decision about “who”, pray – ask God to reveal His ways… His paths… His truth… At this point, God may very well confirm your opinion, or God may change your opinion – but either way – in any case, as in any aspect of the life of a believer, you will not make decisions on your own.

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And if you are tempted to believe, as many do, that the Almighty has more to do with a certain candidate or political party than another, then a dose of truth serum called prayer will jolt you out of that mirage and bring you back. a more accurate response to this moment in history.

We must not cling to the hope that God is on “my side” and not on “their side.” During the civil war, Abraham Lincoln he was allegedly asked if God was on his side. “Sir, I don’t care if God is on our side,” said the president, “I care more about being on God’s side, because God is always right.”

As a friend of mine likes to say, “We need to stop spending so much time deciding whose side God is on and make a decision to be on God’s side,” which brings me to what believers need to pray for after election.

We are besieged on all sides by divisives who preach the message of red states and blue states, us and them, enemies and allies, even good and evil. If you’re tempted to think of America this way, maybe it’s time to reboot your internal operating system. A political opponent is not and should not be considered an “enemy”. This person is just an opponent for her, just like you.

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my friend driving through Pennsylvania passed a billboard during the last election cycle that read “America’s Only Hope: Not a Donkey or an Elephant, but a Lamb.” This year, 2024, is crying out for an end to our political bickering, but that will require some divine intervention that comes in answer to prayer.

Regardless of who wins, the call for praying people of faith is to pray specifically for all those in power – all those elected – that they will, in fact, help us live more in accordance with our American hope. And if our candidate loses? pray And if our candidate wins? pray

You may have seen the recent movie Reagan, in which there is a touching moment when Democratic House Speaker Tip O’Neill, who once called Ronald Reagan the worst president in American history, visits President Reagan in the hospital as he recovers from his assassination . attempt. For a moment in the film, they break away from their merry banter and recite part of Psalm 23 together. But the real story is much stronger.

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In addition to the family, O’Neill was the first official representative of Washington, who to visit the recovering Reagan. When O’Neill entered, only one of the president’s staffers was in the room. Max Friedersdorf, who was assigned to keep unwanted guests out of the president’s suite, later shared with NBC’s Chris Matthews what actually happened at that moment:

“When the speaker came in, he nodded in my direction, walked over to the bed, grabbed both of the president’s hands and said, ‘God bless you, Mr. President.’

“…the speaker fell to his knees and said he would like to pray for the president, choosing the 23rd Psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures.” …’ (President)… read part of the prayer with the speaker in almost a whisper.”

President Ronald Reagan meets with members of Congress (left), Congressman Bob Michel, Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and Senator Howard Baker at the White House. (Bettmann/Participant/Getty)

“When they had finished, the speaker let go of the president’s hand, stood up and bent down to kiss his forehead. “I’d better go,” he said to the patient, “I don’t want to get tired.” you’re out.'”

My fellow Americans, sit with this for a moment.

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Wouldn’t our “disunited” nation benefit from more powerful, faithful, moral, prayer guidance perhaps instead of what we’ve seen between political factions over the past few years? How can we get there? pray

Therefore, pray before voting. If you have already voted, please also pray. And after the election, pray all the more.

If you are looking for words that can help you, why not borrow them George Bush Srwho also made a very important decision on his inauguration day: his first act as president would be prayer. He turned to the Almighty and led the nation in the following prayer:

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“Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace this day brings and the shared faith that makes its continuation possible. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to obey and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: “Use strength to help people”…. Help us to remember this, amen.”

May I have another Amen? As the next few days unfold, let’s pray…and then keep praying. We need it.

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