It is the year of elections and uncertainty is all over the air. Every election year is challenging because choosing love is extra hard when the environment pushes one to pick one side over the other. However, with prayer, we can ask the Lord to deliver our country into safe hands.
Here are five ways to pray for our country during the election period.
- Pray for candidates to seek God’s guidance
More than 80 percent of our leaders claim faith in Jesus. However, they are often susceptible to losing sight of what God wants. Therefore, it is crucial to pray that they would seek God first as they seek to serve the country. For those who do not follow Christ, pray that they would seek wise counsel and be encouraged toward good perspectives and actions by the Christians around them.
- Pray that candidates would have listening ears and soft hearts
Political leaders are ordained by God to represent his will on earth. Therefore, it is important to have those who are concerned about not promoting their agenda but rather those who understand the bigger picture. We all need leaders who have the humility to listen first.
- Pray for candidates to address poverty and justice issues
As a developing nation, we are faced with nasty historical injustices, especially to the lower-ranking ethnic groups. Therefore, the leaders we choose have the moral obligation to address the injustices and ensure that every citizen reaps the fruits of being truly Kenyan. Proverbs 31:8 says “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” A good elected leader should find ways to promote equality within a country.
- Pray for unity
Political contests have a winner and a loser. Therefore, both parties should e able to work together to promote the interests of the citizens. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” we are one nation and political competitions should not separate us but rather draw us closer despite our differences.
- Pray that we would see each other through Jesus’ eyes
Jesus Christ is the epitome of love. As citizens, we should love each other as Jesus loves us. During the election, we will see people default to anger. We might do it ourselves. But Jesus calls us to love each other always and the election period is no exception.