WITH ONE CRY
PRAYING FOR AMERICALesson 4: How to Pray for an Election
Free elections in the United States of America provide an amazing opportunity for Christians to select leaders who best support and live out biblical values. Those same elections contain the danger of tempting believers to put our trust in human government rather than in God.
In this lesson you will:
• learn why it is so important to pray for elections.
• discuss the privileges and dangers of elections.
• learn biblical ways to pray for an election.
• look for ways to move beyond prayer to impact the electoral process.
• learn why it is vital to have godly leaders.
Reading:
• With One Cry – Chapter 5: How to Pray for an Election
• With One Cry – Chapter 10: Prayer That Changes a Nation
• 2 Chronicles 17:1-9; 20:1-30
• 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Video 4: How to Pray for an Election
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you feel like you have put too much trust in our governmental leaders? Why/why not?
2. How do you currently pray for our leaders in government?
3. What might happen if the Church were to focus our prayers on the media?
4. Give a biblical reason why it is good to pray for elections.
5. What do you believe is the most important prayer to pray for elections? Why do you feel this way?
6. How can you use Jehoshaphat’s powerful prayer for his nation as a model for praying for America?
7. Jehoshaphat was far from perfect, even making an alliance that displeased God towards the end of his life. Yet, God used him in powerful ways to lead his people well. What are some examples of how God has used and is using imperfect leaders in our nation?
Download Lesson 4 Discussion Questions
Watch Dave’s Summary Video (2-3 minutes)
Spend Time in Prayer
Pray through the 7 prayer points mentioned by Dave Butts in the video. They can also be found in Chapter 5 (pgs. 35-45). Also, take time to pray through the Flash Points for Prayer (pg. 45).
Next Steps:
• This week, ask the Lord how you might be used by Him to be the answer to your prayers for the nation. Respond in obedience and see what God does through you. You may wish to keep a journal of this journey.
• Prior to an election, plan a season of prayer in your home, for your entire congregation, or even for your community based on the prayer points in Chapter 5.
• Vote your values! So many Christians don’t stand up and exercise their right to vote. Please consider being one who encourages others to stand up for biblical candidates who will vote for biblical values.
• Check out the ministry of Intercessors for America in the Supplemental Materials section for this Lesson below. IFA is the finest and most comprehensive site available to help you pray over issues and government officials at all levels. You can also get true, accurate and biblical perspectives on the current news. Please share this website and information with others: ifapray.org so that they too might pray over the news and issues our nation faces, and pray specifically for our government officials.
Supplemental Material for Lesson 4:
• A Prayer for America
https://www.harvestprayer.com/a-prayer-for-america/
• Praying for an Election, a non-partisan, Scripture-based prayer guide that provides the 7 key topic areas for prayer that Dave outlines in the video for Lesson 4. It is the same prayer guide that is in Chapter 5 of With One Cry: A Renewed Challenge to Pray for America, but focused just on these prayers.
• 4 Compelling Reasons to Pray for the Election Process
https://prayamerica.com/blog/election
• Intercessors for America: https://ifapray.org/
PrayerU strongly recommends this website for any praying Christian concerned about our nation. Spend some time checking it out thoroughly, as it is a powerful resource.
Vision:
• To inform praying Christians about national, state, and local prayer concerns
• To connect Christians moved to intercessory prayer with like-minded intercessors
• To grow and mobilize the number of Christians regularly interceding on national, state, and local issues
Mission Statement: Inform, connect, and mobilize a growing community of people praying for the nation.
Optional Consultation/Question-Answer Session
With every PrayerU course, there is an option to have a one-hour Zoom session with your instructor(s). This is your opportunity to engage your instructor(s) on a personal level with either a question-answer session, a deeper level conversation about the course content, or both.
There is an additional cost for the consultation session and scheduling is subject to availability.