Today is the day: voters are going to the polls in the 2019 General Election. They opened at 7am and will close tonight at 10pm. At that time, the exit poll will also be released which may give some indication as to what the result will be.

As Christians, we want to pray today. That’s part of our calling as followers of Jesus, we pray for a people who do not pray for themselves. But what can we pray? Or, more to the point, what should we pray? Here are just three ideas.

1. Pray that God will be glorified

Let’s start with this prayer! Everything that exists is all about the glory of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism reminds us that the chief end of every man, woman and child is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. What we pray, then, is that through the election result God will somehow be glorified. Even if that seems so impossible, we can still pray that glory will be given to God. We can pray that, amidst the chaos and confusion in our nation at this time, people will turn to Him and trust Him.

2. Pray for leaders of His grace, not the ones we deserve

It is no secret that the UK has largely turned its back on God. At a recent CARE event, our Prayer Co-Ordinator Celia Bowring prayed to this end. She confessed that as a nation we have rejected God and His ways and chosen our own paths. But she prayed for God to have mercy in His anger. This is so important! There is every reason to believe God will answer this prayer. The Prophet Habakkuk asked the Lord to remember mercy in His wrath and anger against sinners (Habakkuk 3:2). God Himself has said judgement is His strange work, but He delights in giving mercy. So, let’s pray we are given leaders of His grace and not the leaders we deserve.

3. Pray for righteousness to be done in our land

In God’s Word we read – “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). In that spirit, let’s pray that righteousness will be done today. We can pray that any new Government will introduce laws that protect the vulnerable, the needy, the foreigners and those who suffer the most. We can pray for a government that will respect and uphold the value of life. We can pray for a government committed to peace and true freedom of religion and expression. In praying all those things, we are praying for God’s will to be done.

God is on the throne

No-one knows the result of today’s election. No-one, that is, except God Himself. As Psalm 97:1 reminds us, the Lord reigns! Therefore, let’s look to the next few days with faith, not fear. A final verse to end with: “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).

A Prayer for Election Day

“Lord, let Your will be done today. May Your grace and mercy be upon our nation. Amen."