An Election Prayer

Dear God and Father, You know that like many many other people, I am watching the election returns to see who the projected winner is and how apprehensive I am;

As I cast my votes for each person and issue put before me at the ballot box, I know that my votes may have safeguarded the best interests and even many lives of those in some people groups, but my votes have failed to safeguard the bests interests and even the lives of those in other people groups;

I wonder what You see when You see us cast our votes, knowing that no matter who we vote for, each side may be consistent with Your values in some ways, but each side violates Your principles in some ways and there is no way to deny that;

I thank You that, first of all, for the human right to vote, a right for which many people have risked or have given their lives;

I thank You that we live in a media age where even those in power are not above the law and are easily called out for actions and behavior that violate Your principles;

I thank You that we live in a country where we are free to disagree with and even criticize those in power us, and for this freedom of speech;

However, You know that in our sinfulness, we so often abuse this freedom of speech and that is why we have so much vilifying and dishonoring of our President as well as anyone else in power;

We know that Hurricane Sandy, that devastating hurricane, may be a deciding factor in this election and I praise You for how this tragedy has shown us that our polticians can set aside their differences, even sharp ones, and work together for the higher good of their country;

I'm sad and angry that it seems to always take tragedy to unite us, to underscore that we are "all in this together" and that we have more in common than we think;

No matter who wins the White House and the open Congressional seats, may this President address autism and may my supporters and I get his attention;

Many issues and the welfare and even the lives of many in each person group are at stake in this election; whoever gets in I know that there will be trade-offs;

Yet I know that if we read Your Word correctly, I know that You care about the lives and best interests of those in all people groups and in all the issues that are at stake in this election;

I pray in advance for all the winners in this election at every level, that they will, their elation realize their tremendous responsibility to their constituents; grant thse winners Your grace that they will reach out to those who are not voiting for them;

Grant each of these winners Your grace and Your wisdom that they will be filled with gratitude and not pride, at their victories, gratitude toward You and to all of those whose votes have put them in power;

Give to each of thse winners the grace, the wisdom and the courage to be able to "reach across the aisle" and to work with those whom they disagree with, even sharply so;

I pray in advance for all those who will be losing the elections, knowing that this will be for each of them a bitter defeat after all the time, energy and resources that each has poured into their campaigns;

Give to each one of them Your grace, Your wisdom and Your courage to accept their defeat without bitterness and, and as hard as it is, to view their defeat as a learning experience; grant them the wisdom to move forward;

I pray for all of us voters, that You grant each of us Your grace and Your wisdom to support whoever wins the White House and the Congressional seats even if these are candidates whom we have not voted for;

Grant to all of us whose candidates of choice will win the White House and Congressional seats, the perspective and the grace to not gloat and to realize that though we like the election's outcome, that there will be consequences that we must live with and that not all the winner's policies and worldview are in line with Your principles;

Grant to all of us whose candidates of choice will lose in this election, Your grace and Your prespective to not become bitter or cynical over the outcome and over voting itself; help us to see that You are able to work through those in power, even if we do not like them or have not voted for them;

I understand that some people are still standing in line, waiting to vote; give them the endurance to continue to stand in those lines until they are able to vote and let nothing hinder any of them from being able to exercize this right;

You know that most of us have basically lost our faith in and respect for those in power or who seek to be in power, given what we have seen or heard about their unethical, immoral or even criminal actions and practices in public and even in their personal lives;

I praise You that, in spite of those in power, that You are in full control and that all Your purposes, Your desires and Your will are going to ultimatey be done and that Yours will be the victory though it seems now that evil people are winning.

I praise You that in Your order of things, all things are reversed and what we value--wealth, fame, success, money, appearance, athletic ability, talent, and so forth--are not so valued by You and are not Your priorites;

I praise You that You are the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords and give to us Your people  Your courage, Your grace and Your power to live in all aspects as though we really believe this. In Jesus' Name. Amen.