March 1, 2021 Prayer - For people considering running for elected office

Ruling God,

With our mouths we extol you, Lord, and praise you in the great throng of worshipers.  You stand with those in need and save us according to your unfailing love.  Your world is a beautiful dance of order, beauty, consistency, and creativity.  Thank you that you have included government in your plans for order and you have set into place civic authorities to help keep that order.  Today we pray that, as people are prayerfully considering running for political offices in the upcoming months and years, you would cause righteous, godly, Spirit-filled men and women to step out in courage and serve the people around them. We pray for a spirit of humility in those who are considering running for offices; may they not be motivated by ego or lust for power, but may they hear from you and walk in your Good Way - your paths of Peace.  Your Word says we should not give to dogs what is sacred or throw our pearls to swine, so we pray you would thwart the efforts of anyone who should not seek office. We pray that you give your candidates campaign leaders, consultants, and others who are gifted in strategy and fundraising, but especially have hearts to serve you and the people of this state. May those considering running for office be completely trustworthy, with no corruption or negligence. We know that you work through "jars of clay" leaders who are fallible, but we pray that the life of Jesus would be manifest in their thoughts, words, and deeds. We believe that you came to give us your abundant life, so we pray for that Life to be poured out in those who seek political office - in their families, friendships, businesses, and service to others. We choose momentum instead of inertia, righteousness instead of ungodliness, and hope instead of mourning. May godly men and women rise up to seize this moment, face the enemies of this nation, and move forward in hope in You and the victory you give us in Christ Jesus, in whom we pray, Amen.

Help me, Lord my God;

    save me according to your unfailing love.

Let them know that it is your hand,

    that you, Lord, have done it.

While they curse, may you bless;

    may those who attack me be put to shame,

    but may your servant rejoice.

May my accusers be clothed with disgrace

    and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;

    in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

For he stands at the right hand of the needy,

   to save their lives from those who would condemn them." (Psalm 109:26-31 NIV)

"Every person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God." (Romans 13:1 NLV)

"Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen...God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses [civil authorities] to do it. " (Romans 13:1, 4 MSG)

"At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."  (Daniel 6:4 NIV)

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6 NIV)

"Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. " (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 NKJV)