Praying for the General Election
Sunday 9th June 2024
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good and pleases God our Saviour,
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)
Praying for the General Election
We know we should be praying for the UK General Election. It is of concern to those of us who live in this country, and it is certainly of concern to God and within his care. But what should we pray? It is easy to slip into selfish concerns or unhelpful partisanship, and so out of fear we may not pray at all. To help us, Church Society has come up with a new collect inspired by 1 Timothy 2, an American prayer from the last century and the recent Coronation:
The collect reminds us that in a democracy such as ours, both politicians and voters have powers and privileges. We must exercise these, conscious that on judgment day the Lord will call on us to give an account for our stewardship. It prays for God’s guidance as each voter considers, we hope prayerfully, how to cast their vote, and reminds us that the purpose of government is to rule wisely and justly.
‘1 Timothy 2 tells us, we are to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”‘
‘It is his glory, not that of our nation or party, which must be uttermost in our minds. And at a time when there is great pressure on those who confess the truth of the gospel, we pray that we may continue to have freedom to proclaim and profess it, alluding to a phrase in the King’s Coronation Oath.’
Feel free to share this prayer with others, and of course to pray it yourselves.
Almighty God,
to whom each of us must give an account for all our powers and privileges:
Guide the people of the United Kingdom in the election of their members of Parliament;
that by wise laws and just administration,
peace may be fostered,
godliness encouraged,
and the true profession of the gospel enabled,
for the sake of Jesus our saviour and King,
to the glory of your holy name,
Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)