The Church is often relegated to the sidelines, considered irrelevant and out of touch. Though we sometimes deserve that critique, God has a completely different perspective on what His people are to be and how we are to function. In Ephesians 3:10, the Apostle Paul writes, “His [God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known….” Though seemingly powerless in the eyes of the world, the Church—through righteousness, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit—releases the wisdom of God into any and every culture.

Pray today for the Church in America, that:

• Our eyes will be opened to see the hope to which we are called (Eph.1:18).
• We will experience in a fresh, new way the Presence of Christ in revival.
• Believers will be given the faith to believe that their votes will make a difference.
• A spirit of repentance and humility will be poured out upon the people of God.

The Great American Experiment in representative government for more than 200 years has depended upon voter involvement. From the very beginning of our nation there has been debate on who should be allowed the privilege of casting a vote to select our governmental leaders. The weight of history has increasingly opened the ballot box to more and more individuals.

This requires an educated electorate who will examine the issues and the candidates and vote in a way that is best for the nation, not just their own well-being. Much prayer is needed for this critical process.

Pray today for voters in the United States, that:

• Wisdom will be sought from God (James 1:5).
• Self-interest will be laid aside for the common good.
• Discernment between truth and falsehood will be clear.

In the early years of our nation, it was thought to be in bad taste to even be seen wanting an office, much less actually campaigning. Oh, how things have changed! Now candidates for public office, especially at higher levels, put themselves and their families

through a rigorous process that brings every aspect of their lives into public view. It has become so intense that many good individuals have chosen not to endure the sort of public scrutiny that is an integral part of the campaigning process today. Praying for candidates does not mean praying just for those you agree with or support. All are leaders and potential leaders in our nation—and as such, all need our prayers.

Pray today for candidates for office in the United States, that:

• They will take brave stands for righteousness, even when it may not be well received.
• Their families will be protected from harm and unnecessary scrutiny.
• They will surround themselves with godly advisers.
• They will focus on the issues we face as a nation and not on personal attacks on other candidates.

In our day of 24-hour news coverage, the media have taken on a huge role in our election process. Handling media correctly sometimes seems to take precedence in a campaign over actually dealing with issues. The media themselves often forget their role of informing and reporting and have become endorsers and supporters, even while they try to deny that role. Increased prayer for the media is an essential way for Christians to impact an election.

Pray today for the media in America, that:

• Truth in reporting and election coverage will become a high value.
• Media bias will disappear.
• Christianity will receive fair coverage in all reports.
• Hope will become a part of the message of the media.

In our rapidly shrinking world, what happens in one country has an effect on others. This is especially true for the United States. The individuals who hold the presidency and Senate and Congressional seats will make decisions that impact the rest of the world. Whether those decisions help or harm the people of the world is largely determined by the choices that Americans make at the polls. We need to pray that our choices will serve to bless the world.

Pray today for the election and its impact on the world, that:

• Voters will consider the foreign policies of candidates and how they fit with biblical principles.
• The activities of other nations will not have an undue influence on our elections.
• The result of U.S. elections will serve to spread the gospel around the globe.
• The U.S. will stand firm in its commitment to Israel’s right to exist as a nation.

Nothing is achieved in the Kingdom of God without warfare. That includes the election of righteous individuals to the leadership of one of the key nations on the planet. As we pray, we must expect the enemy to attack in many ways. There will be attacks on candidates and their families, on the media, the Church, and perhaps the nation itself. Some will be clearly spiritual, while other attacks may have physical manifestations. Our call is to have great discernment as we pray and stand in the strength of Christ’s victory.

Pray today around the spiritual warfare issues involved in the election, such as:

• Great awareness and discernment for the Lord’s praying people as they pray over the election.
• Physical protection for all candidates and their families throughout this campaign season.
• A strong hedge of protection around the nation itself during this time of decision.
• The unleashing of the sword of the Spirit throughout the nation, judging the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

Ultimately, whatever the area of prayer emphasis, we must always come back to the purposes of God. Jesus taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). As we pray for something as important as national elections, we must lay down our own desires and take up the desires of God. What we really desire is for the Lord’s purposes to be achieved in and through our nation. All of our requests must be couched in words and thoughts that focus our hearts on the Kingdom of God.

Pray today for the purposes of God to be accomplished in the U.S. elections:

• Pray that the U.S. will turn and seek first the Kingdom of God.
• Pray that God will be honored in the midst of this election campaign.
• Pray for opportunities for Christians to share their faith and their values in the midst of this election process.
• Pray that the results of the 2012 elections will please the Lord and release His blessing over this nation.