election-2016

Over the past two years, we have witnessed a presidential election season about which history books will make note. On one side, we have a boisterous outsider candidate that lacks polish and restraint against insulting multiple people. On the other side, we have an insider candidate that has been investigated for serious crimes. Americans often forget the minor party candidates, but the Libertarian Party (which offers several candidates on the Washington state ballot) presidential candidate has recently drawn more attention than other election years. In the press, the presidential race often looks like a mud fight.

Because of this, some people, especially younger voters, are so fed up with the process that they plan to sit out the election. If that is you, DON’T.

We Americans have been blessed to live in a nation where we can choose our leaders and have a say on some important issues that appear on the ballot. Many election years see races that are decided by just a few votes. Your vote, dear reader, could be the tipping vote.

I, too, have found the elections frustrating. I’ve been voting regularly since I was 18 years old in 1984, and most of the candidates and issues I’ve voted for have lost. But I keep sending in my ballot anyway (In Washington state, we are all forced to vote by mail—a great way to open the election to fraud. But that is another issue). In one race or another, my vote might make a difference.

pray-for-america

On the other hand, we cannot put our trust in the government to solve our nation’s problems. All people are flawed and are sinners. Therefore, any government, which is made up of people, will be flawed. That is why God calls those of us who follow him to pray for our nation and pray for our leaders in government (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Only God can change the hearts of men and women. Only God can bring healing to our nation that is divided over so many issues. Only when people’s hearts are made right with God will we see his blessing return to this land.

Here are some resources to help you pray for the United State of America:

  • Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tour: This tour is nearly over but the website offers resources to help you pray and to help you decide on election issues.
  • Prayat12 : Pray for our nation every day at 12:00 noon. I learned of this program through an app I started using about a year ago called PrayerMate. On my smartphone, I receive a notification at noon every day to prayer for our nation. Usually. I just do a quick little prayer at that time. I highly recommend PrayerMate, too.
  • Focus on the Family’s 31 Days: I just read about this resource and another Focus resource, Commit2Vote2016.com, this afternoon in Jim Daly’s September 2016 newsletter. The challenge here is to pray every day in October for our nation. You can download a prayer guide and/or follow the prayers on Facebook.

Focus on the Family also has this site listing what the Founding Fathers had to say about the nation.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).