Day 235: Post-Election Prayers

DAY 235

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Thirty-four    Wednesday 4 November 2020

Post-Election Prayers

The Book of Common Prayer

For Our Country

Almighty God, you have given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly ask you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many nations and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness and in the day of trouble, do not allow our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.     

In Times of Conflict

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Use the hymn text below as a prayer.

Reflective question: What is your ‘highest priority prayer’ for our nation? Pray it daily.

Reflective Scripture: Psalm 33:12 – “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,…”

Reflective hymn:

“God of our Fathers” verse 2 – Daniel Roberts (1841-1907)

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,

In this free land by thee our lot is cast.

Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay:

Thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.