This is how I've been praying for this election. I began in the last debate between Obama and McCain. I didn't watch it. I was on my knees for the duration of the debate praying that Obama would fail, and McCain would prevail.
I was delighted to read in the paper that McCain won that debate. Since then, I've been praying each night for the election.
The first thing that I confess is that the help of man is vain, Ps 60:11. This must be understood. To pray to God for deliverance from evil, and to have faith in men--even good men--is to be double minded.
God is sovereign, and nothing thwarts his plans.
When I pray, I open to the Psalms, and read them, and when I come to a verse that seems applicable to the present situation, I pray that verse.
I've been led, I believe, to pray for God's people in this nation. I pray that God would grant unto them repentance, because He has promised that if His people would humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, He would hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Often folks think that the repentance is all up to us, but we neglect the fact that God is the One who must grant it (For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phl. 2:13). So I ask God that he would drive multitudes of His people to earnest, fervent prayers of repentance and deliverance, and that God would preserve the nation, and not let it fall any longer into the control of those that hate Him, and hate us.
I pray for myself, that God would give me repentance, that He would give me tears, a godly sorrow over my own sin, and the sin of others, (Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted, Mat. 5:4) In fact, I ask for all the character qualities of the Beatitudes:
1. Poverty of spirit--humility.
2. Tears, godly sorrow
3. Meekness
4. A hunger and thirst for righteousness
5. A forgiving spirit
6. Purity of heart
7. Love (being a peacemaker Rom. 14:15,19)
I also pray that He would give me the abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit, faith, hope and love.
I pray that they would be manifest in my relationships with my family and aquaintances.
I pray for the furtherance of God's kingdom, and that His will would be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
I pray these things, because that's God's purpose according to Redemption in each of our lives, and I want my heart to desire nothing but these things, no matter how He chooses to govern our nation, whether it be by those who hate us, or those who love Him.
So I thank Him that the spectre of Socialism hovering over this nation has moved me to seek Him more. It may very well be that we have entered into a time of great affliction, but regardless, I ask Him that it will not be so.
God calls the wicked His sword and hand. Even so, David prayed to be delivered from them. (Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword, Ps 17:13). So I pray that God would disappoint the Obama campaign, and cast it down.
Psalm 107:33-35 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. I prayed that He would turn the rivers of money flowing into the coffers of Obama's campaign into wilderness, and the watersprings of support from endorsments into dry ground.
Psalm 108:13, Through God we shall do valiantly: for he [it is that] shall tread down our enemies. I pray specifically that God would tread Obama's campaign, and grind it into dust.
Isa. 44:24-25 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish.
I pray that as He said He does, that He would frustrate the the Democratic campaign, and drive them insane with failure.
I pray for the McCain campaign, not for McCain's sake, but for the sake of God's people, and God's reputation in the earth. I derive hope from Moses' intercession in Ex 32:9-14. That though the people here deserve judgment, He would preserve this nation lest those around the world who hate Him, and hate America would boast that God could not save it. Can a nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are CREATED . . . long endure?
So I pray that McCain and Palin would be given uncommon boldness and uncommon wit to answer those who attempt to catch them in their words.
And these are just a few things. Again, I don't know if God will see fit to preserve us, or if He is going to give us into the hands of those that hate us, but these are the things that I pray and ask for. And if God appears not to answer, I pray all the more. And if Obama wins, I will keep praying. I don't pray little, I pray big. I don't want to be preserved to maintain the status quo, but to go back to the original vision of this nation, where men are free to serve God.
Remember, vain is the help of man. The outcome of this election is determined by God.
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