An Advent Prayer for Elected Officials

It’s an honor to be asked to lead the prayers for our elected officials.? Before we pray, here's some observations for your consideration.

Elected officials are under incredible pressure today.? Just a few of the topics they are tasked to deal with are -- artificial intelligence, antisemitism, racial tension, partisan strife, social media, new questions on gender and sexuality, school safety, government debt, violent crime -- and the list goes on and on.

But our country has dealt with big issues before.? After all, we’ve had wars, assassinations, demonstrations and riots in the street.

So why does it feel so much more chaotic today?

One reasons is our elected officials are between a rock and a hard place.? On the one hand, we are an instant gratification generation and we want what we want when we want it and we want it now!? But on the other hand these officials are restrained and operating within a system designed to contain power.? Our founders were suspicious of human nature so they set three co-equal branches of government in perpetual tension with one another.

So how do we pray for these leaders who are stuck?

Fortunately Advent is our guide.? Advent anticipates the moment when God broke into human history to save humanity.? C.S. Lewis described this as a rescue mission where the rightful king has landed in enemy territory calling us to acts of sabotage.

So what is sabotage against chaos?

It is peace, freedom and beauty.

The Bible tells us that government is ordained by God and a gift to us (Romans 13:1).? St. Paul instructs us to pray for our leaders so we can live quiet lives (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Please join me now in doing that …

Dear Glorious God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

We lift up our elected officials to you and ask you to pour out your spirit of revelation that they may know you better.

We pray that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened so they may know the hope to which you have called them, the riches of your glorious inheritance in your holy people and the incomparably great power for those who believe.

Father we lift up those serving in elected or appointed office at each level — local, state and federal — and each branch — legislative, executive and judicial — and those serving in our armed forces and clandestine forces — and ask you to pour out your Spirit on them.

Protect our elected officials from the temptation of public life to be in office to be somebody and replace it with great joy in accomplishment regardless who gets the earthly credit.

Protect their reputations from falsehood and mischaracterization and put a hedge around their spouses, children, and parents.

Give our officials abundant wisdom, patience and a fresh perspective to see their fellow leaders and constituents as you see them.

And give them quiet hearts amidst the chaos, Lord, just as you calmed the storm with your command.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.? Amen.