Prayers and Passages for a Political Season

Christ be the test of every allegiance, preference, position, and ideology I hold.  If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? (Luke 9:23) 

Lord, let me place no person, party or possession before You. Measure my faith by my care for others. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and first commandment.And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

God of Grace, season every word I speak with grace and compassion. .I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter. (Matthew 12:36-37) Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4.29)

Holy Comforter, strengthen my soul so soundly that I offer redemptive good will for all people.   Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:43)

Christ, fix my gaze so heavenward that I see You in all who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, needy, sick, imprisoned, poor and forgotten.   Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom…  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. .. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these in my family, you did for me. (Matthew 25:34)

God of Mercy, ground my daily living so that others see Christ in all my actions.  You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Jesus Matthew 5:14

God of All, open my eyes to the good in government. ‘Show me the coin used for the tax’. And they brought him a denarius.  Jesus said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ (Matthew 22:19)   For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the governing authorities are God’s servants for good. (Romans 13:6)

God of Abraham, Gideon, Lydia, Joanna, Zacchaeus, Matthew, and Peter: let my words and my work honor workers and entrepreneurs.  Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long’. (Luke 5:5)  Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ( 2 Thessalonians 3.12)

Creator God, make me a good steward of all Your Creation. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. (Luke 12:6)

Lord of Love, direct my voting beyond my self-interest to a greater good. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Christ our Savior, forgive me for the many times I fail You and neighbor. Empower me to live a life of forgiveness and mercy.    For if you forgive others their trespasses then your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  (Matthew 6.14)

Almighty God, let me strive to think, to speak and to live on earth as in Heaven.  Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.