Who do you pray for?

So what are we are six or seven weeks until the election.  And I am guessing—that most every one of you has a strong opinion about which candidate they will vote for.  Hilary Donald or maybe it’s a third party option.   Whoever it is I am sure-- You’ve probably done a lot of thinking about the election.  

I want to ask you something, “have you prayed for the candidates?”

If you have not—no worries-- you are in good company-- I have not, —so when I read the opening line of Paul’s letter to Timothy earlier this week—it kind of hit me between the eyes.  

Remember what Paul-wrote—First of all-- I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions…

I really don’t do an awful lot of praying for people in high places or kings or queens or our president or even the candidates. Mostly, my prayers are for people in my immediate circle of family and friends —for things I would like to have happen—maybe every once and a while I might shoot an arrow prayer up to heaven for the President—but it has never occurred to me to pray for the candidates. 

Curious about what people pray for I did some research--I found out that according to Life-way Research-- 82% of folks who pray, pray for families and friends—makes sense.

74% who pray for their own difficulties – 38% of people who pray are nice-- they pray for those affected by disaster and 36% of us who pray, pray that they might win the lottery—or simply pray for their own prosperity.  -- 13% pray for their sports teams and 12% pray for Government leaders. http://religionnews.com/2014/10/01/americans-pray-maybe-sports-team/

I’d like to point out  we are praying more for the Patriots and Red Sox than we are for the president and governor.  

So we are not doing an awful lot of praying for the leaders in high places.  Only About one in 9 or on in 10 people are praying for the leaders—So if that is you—I guess you get the rest of the sermon off.

The scriptures call Jesus’ followers is to be people of prayer.  In James—there is an exhortation to pray for one another and to pray specifically for one another’s healing.

We have the  clear exhortation we heard today to pray for everyone including those in high places.

And then we have  the very challenging words from Jesus that we hear in the book of Matthew  —love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 

I think the challenge, our call is — is not only to pray for our leaders and  for our candidate- but also to pray for the other candidates, as well, and better yet  our call might be to get down on or knees and offering prayers for those across the aisle. 

Yes I did just say that perhaps that we might pray for those across the aisle—Democrats praying for Republicans and Republicans getting on their knees and praying for Democrats— Liberals for conservatives and conservatives for liberals --I know that there are probably a lot of things you’d rather be doing.

I wonder how we might be changed if we started praying for those across the aisle- for those who might have vastly different views than we do.   How would things change if we started praying-- For that Candidate that we would rather not see in the White House or that neighbor with that bumper sticker or the lawn sign.  

Now when Paul or Jesus says to pray –I don’t think they would have our prayer for  that that that person across the aisle that that person would  become more like us. 

But what if we started to pray for understanding—St. Francis has a great prayer attributed to him where in part of it he says, “Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand.”

What if we got down on our knees today and said to God—help me  to understand that person across the aisle—help me to understand where they are coming from –help me to walk a bit in their shoes so that I can see why they are pushing for that. 

I wonder how the climate in our country might change if we all spent more time on our knees praying for understanding---rather than complaining or arguing or vilifying—How might our response be different if we prayed to understand where someone like Colin Kapernick is coming from rather than simply crucifying him for failing to stand during the anthem.

We have just a little bit of time left until the election—I invite you to spend some m time on your knees—perhaps praying to understand— not to be understood- but to understand- perhaps praying for Barack our president, for Charlie our governor and for those in high places—perhaps all we might be able to do is utter the names of the candidates in the presence of God and then get out of the way.

I will endeavor to spend these last days in prayer—will you?

AMEN