Prayers for Election Day

In 2016, I made this Facebook post on election morning, and it's a sentiment I still believe:  "For those of us feeling fretful on this election day, I say, "Be not afraid!" We are a nation of quilters, adept at taking frayed scraps and turning them into comforters. We are a nation of tinkerers, who can take metal scraps and turn them into cars and computers. We will be OK."

Every day is a good day for prayer; election days are good days for multiple prayers.

I've written election day prayers before.  They don't change much.  I've voted in elections that didn't hold much promise of anything new, regardless of which man (gendered language intentional) won.  I've voted in more than one election which seemed like the most consequential one of our lifetime.  And here we are, voting again in an election that might be the most consequential, or one where we look back with bitter tears aghast at how much worse the U.S. situation has gotten.

Here are prayers that I've written on past election days:

Prayer 1: Just and merciful God, on this day help us to be wise as we cast our ballots. Keep us from the dangers of despair. Remind us of the times when the oppressed have been set free, and help us to be part of that process. Give us the courage to do what must be done.

Prayer 2: Generous God, as we head to the polls, help us stay mindful of those who have gone before us, those who didn't have the privileges that we enjoy. Guide us as we choose our leaders. Help us to discern which candidates will help bring to fruition the world that you envision for us.

Prayer 3: Triune God, remind us that no matter what happens today, the sun will rise tomorrow. Remind us of all the leaders who seemed a disastrous pick at the time but who went on to bring about important changes that we'd have never dreamed possible. Remind us of the leaders with hard hearts that softened. Remind us that you are a God who can make all sorts of dreams come true. And remind us that we have a part to play too.