(Alice Young)
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” (Psalm 24:1)
As we pray for the election, it’s easy to lose our focus and get lost in the many important issues. Sometimes, it helps to step back and remind ourselves that our country and the world belong to the Lord. As you pray through the steps in these prayer prompts, slow your breathing and your pace. Give time for thoughts and images to arise in your mind so that you can pray about them.
Step One: Take a few long deep breaths. Close your eyes and sit comfortably. Pause for a moment and remember that you are coming to a God who loves you and loves the world. If it’s helpful to you, you can recite Psalm 24:1 aloud.
Step Two: Think about where you live. Where do you notice God’s grace? Thank God for the presence of grace around you. What areas of concern do you have for your home, your street or neighborhood? Ask God to pour out more grace in those areas.
Step Three: Think about your town/county. What can you thank God for? Where is there need for more justice or compassion? Ask God to bring his Kingdom into those areas of need.
Step Four: Think about your state. How has God blessed your state? Praise God for the good things you notice about your state (the government, the communities, the land or water, etc.) Is there anything that you notice is missing in your state that you think God might want for it? Pray for God to bless your state with those things.
Step Five: Think about your country. What do you think God wants for your country? Pray for God’s desires to be worked out and fulfilled in your country. Where do you see evil at work? Ask God to remove it and replace it with righteousness. Invite God to show you his desires for the country. Ask God to help the nation become more attuned to his love and justice.
Step Six: Think about the world. Where do you see God at work in the world? Pray for the increase of the Kingdom of God in all the nations of the earth. How do you think God desires your nation to be a blessing to the rest of the world? Pray that people everywhere will cooperate with God’s desires.
Step Seven: Sit quietly for a minute. Ask God to show you how you can be more attentive to God’s desires for your community, state, country and world. Thank God for the ways grace and mercy are already at work. Repeat Psalm 24:1 as a reminder.
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.