As our nation prepares to elect a new President on Tuesday it is important for Christians to examine their own thinking and actions in light of the Bible. It is easy to condemn ungodliness in one candidate and miss it in the other or in ourselves. It’s tradition to vote against the “bad” candidate while failing to ask ourselves who am I voting for. It is convenient to ignore our own Christian responsibilities in our nation. Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 exhorts how we should relate to leaders:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Our first concern should be that we pray and give thanks for those in authority – the President, Senators, Congressmen, and the local Mayor. It is easy to worry about them which we are not commanded to do while forgetting to pray for them. God does answer our prayers and maybe the mess we are in is an indication that the people of God haven’t prayed about it.

Part of the reason for the command to pray is an acknowledgement that God is sovereign. While multiple examples and verses in Scripture could be given, my favorite on the topic is Proverbs 21:1 which says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” God can change the kings heart whenever he wants to. Nebuchadnezzar provides examples of this multiple times in Daniel.

A final passage that I will mention is Proverbs 3:5-8. For many of us this is a passage we know by heart, but sometimes we forget to apply it to all of life. Solomon says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

From previous posts I have made clear how I would apply this to the election. It is easy to get caught up in the candidates and to especially fear those that are most evil in the areas we care about. It is hard to remember that God is in control. Choose a candidate that would please the Lord and allow Him to orchestrate the outcome.