Pray Like This...

As we find ourselves at the heart of another Election Day, it’s hard to ignore the division and tension that often arise in these times. Today, as we cast our ballots and make choices for our country’s future, the words of the Lord's Prayer remind us of a higher calling: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. This line challenges us to remember that our ultimate allegiance is to a God whose holiness transcends political agendas. As we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven," we’re reminded that we, as Christians, have a responsibility to pursue unity, justice, and peace, not only in our communities but in our nation as well. Our votes should reflect these divine values, aiming to bring a glimpse of God's kingdom here on earth.

The Lord's Prayer also calls us to rely on God for our daily needs: Give us today our daily bread. This line shifts our focus from a self-centered approach to one that sees our needs as part of a collective dependence on God. Election Day brings up countless debates about policies that affect our livelihoods, but the prayer asks us to trust God to provide for us all, not just for our individual gain. It’s a call to recognize the needs of our neighbors, remembering that the choices we make today impact their "daily bread" too. When we pray for God’s provision, we also pray for wisdom to act in ways that ensure everyone has what they need to thrive, aligning our choices with a spirit of compassion and solidarity.

Finally, we are reminded of forgiveness and the power it has to heal and reconcile: Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. In a time when political opinions can feel deeply personal, Jesus' words challenge us to release resentment and division. When we vote and advocate for what we believe, let us also make room for grace, even when we disagree. We ask God to deliver us from the evil one, to keep us from falling into the traps of bitterness and hatred that can so easily ensnare us. May we strive to be peacemakers, pursuing a unity that reflects God’s love for all people, even in our differences. Today, as we fulfill our civic duty, may the Lord's Prayer guide us toward a vision of God’s kingdom, grounded in forgiveness, humility, and love for one another.

Let us learn and pray the Lord’s Prayer daily and together.
“Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.”  - Matthew 6:9-14

For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory forever.  Amen

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