How to pray for the election

By Bryan Fischer

"The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power." ~ James 5:16

Christians comprise about six percent of India's population. In 2004, heavily favored candidates in the national elections planned to turn the nation in a direction that would have severely restricted religious liberty and made it virtually illegal to be a practicing Christian.

Every poll and every pundit predicted a landslide victory for those opposed to religious liberty. In that season of desperation, people of faith began to pray in a united and fervent way, that the individuals of God's choosing would be elected to every office.

To the stunned surprise of the nation, in district after district those who opposed freedom of religion and speech were defeated and were removed from power at the national level. No one anticipated this result.

Patrick Joshua, who is the Director of the National Prayer Network for India and a father figure for the prayer movement in that nation, believes that as a result of the fervent prayers of people of faith, God touched the hearts of voters and a spirit of corporate conviction came over the people of India. Results were most dramatic where prayer was the most concentrated.

I agree with Mr. Joshua that the election season we are in is one of the most critical in our nation's history. The choices we face on Nov. 4 are momentous, and the results will be felt for decades to come both here and around the world. It is perhaps more important than ever before that the people of God seek favor from the throne of God for our nation.

The decision the American people make on Nov. 4 will send us in one of two decidedly different directions when it comes to religious liberty, freedom of political and religious speech, the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, public policy on human sexuality, and freedom of conscience. And the list could go on. It is critical that the American people choose well and wisely.

What follows is the pattern of prayer the faithful in India followed, adapted for use in our own election season. I urge you to pray in a similar fashion both in private and in public, particularly in any small groups of which you are a part.

1. National: Pray that the man of righteousness, the man of God's choosing, will be elected in every congressional race, every senate race, and to the office of the presidency. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." ~ Proverbs 14:34 (Note: "man" is being used in its generic sense.)
   
   
2. State and local: Pray that the man of righteousness, the man of God's choosing, will be elected to every office at the state and local level. "When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan." ~ Proverbs 29:2
   
   
3. Voters: Pray that each citizen will be convicted to vote for the man of righteousness, the man of God's choosing. Pray that God's Spirit will overshadow each one as he makes his decision. "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide ... by what his ears hear." ~ Isaiah 11:2-3
   
   
4. Election officials: Pray that every official involved in the election process will serve with honesty and integrity of heart. "The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight." ~ Proverbs 11:1
   
   
5. Those praying: Pray that God will energize and empower his people to call out to him day and night in extraordinary prayer during this season. "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a Spirit of grace and supplication." ~ Zechariah 12:10
   
   
6. The Church: Pray that the Church will be full awakened, engaged and empowered during this critical season and understand the urgency and importance of this election and its implications for the advancement of God's purposes in our nation and around the world. "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." ~ Isaiah 9:7
   
   
7. Our nation: Pray that God's plans and purposes for our nation will be established during this election season. Pray that we will be a nation which follows God and is a blessing to the nations of the earth. "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:10
   
   

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

(Many thanks to good friends Bob and Patty Compton for sharing with me the information about India as well as the prayer pattern developed by Mr. Joshua. His material has been slightly adapted for use here.)

© Bryan Fischer