At his inauguration, Ulysses S. Grant asked for every American citizen to pray for him and “to do his share toward cementing a happy union; and I ask the prayers of the nation to Almighty God in behalf of this consummation.” (March 4, 1869)

May we remember the importance of that request then for now. We need to pray to God for our nation and pray for our leaders.

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1 Tm 2:1-4 instructs, Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (Jas 5:16). Our prayers will produce awesome results

Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them. (Mt 18:19-20)

While it’s necessary we pray for our leaders and vote righteously, the vote we cast for president doesn’t exactly determine who becomes president.

For that, we must look at the Electoral College. You may have read recently where the Supreme Court protected this institution..

What is the Electoral College?

It is a group of people who elect the president and the vice president of the United States. In this instance, college, refers to an organized body of people working together for a common task.

As voters head to the polls on election day, they will not vote for the presidential candidates directly. At least not by popular vote. They will vote for specific people known as the electors.

Each state has a certain number of electoral votes, based on their population.

The electors are appointed by the political parties in each state.

Here is how it works, if you vote for Donald J. Trump and he ends up winning the popular vote in your state, the electors chosen by the Republican party for your state will then cast votes for him in their state capital on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. So, on Election Day, we are electing the electors who elect the president. Sounds odd, I know.

There are 538 electoral votes. It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Each state has at least three electoral votes. California has the most electoral votes at 54. Texas is next with 40. Florida is third with 30.

Yes, we must pray and vote, but we cannot stop there. We must intercede and claim the electoral votes for the Kingdom of God and that the delegates will align with the Word of God.

Taking Our States for God

Jeremiah 29:7 says we are to seek the peace of our place of residence.

Furthermore, God says our peace will be found in the peace of our city. I think we can all agree with this. If our city or state is in turmoil, it is difficult to live in peace.

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. (Jer 29:7)

Isaiah 62:6-7, in speaking of our cities, says; I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes.

This is our place of prayer for the upcoming electoral votes. We must take our place as watchmen on the wall. We must cry out day and night until God establishes righteousness in our cities, our states, and our nation.

God’s word over us and our nation is found in Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God’s plan for our nation, our state, and our community is one of peace, a good future and great hope. As we pray, may He establish HIS word in our nation. Also, don’t just pray for the election. Pray for the electors—the delegates who will cast their votes afterwards as we also pray for our nation and leaders.

Personal Prayer Points

• Father, we are thankful for the right to vote. Help us hold this privilege and responsibility with discernment. Give us wisdom in our vote, that we would vote with righteousness, aligning only with the word of God. Show us how to take a stronger stand in our state. Give us the words to pray for the electoral votes in the land where you have planted us.
• Help us remember our battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, principalities, and powers in darkness. Empower us to walk in this truth and to not allow the enemy to cause us to see people as the enemy. (Eph 6:12, 2 Cor 10:4)

National Prayer Points

• Ask God for a spirit of repentance to sweep across our nation, that we become a nation with a heart after God. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chr 7:14)
• Pray for a holy fear of God to sweep across our land, leading us back to a place of rest on every side. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or crisis. (1 Kgs 5:4)
• Pray each voter uses the wisdom of God as they cast their vote. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jas 1:5)
• Pray each voter will rightly discern between truth and lies. Pray that truth will prevail in our land and this election. Lies, and not truth, rule the land. For they go from sin to sin, and they do not know Me,” says the Lord. (Jer 9:3)
• Ask God to thwart the efforts of those who seek to remove religious freedom from our nation. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1)
• Ask God to remove all who would try to change the outcome of voting unjustly or illegally. Also, I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level. (Is 28:17)
• Pray against any attacks that would prevent or delay the election. The Lord, your God Himself fights for you. (Dt 3:22)
• Pray for a safe and fair election. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. (Ps 12:5) You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute. (Ex 23:1-3)
• Pray that the candidates will take a strong stand for righteousness. And that they and their families will be protected. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Cor 6:14) For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. (Dt 20:4)
• Pray the voters in your state will vote righteously, for justice and liberty. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. (Prv 29:2)
• Pray the candidates will focus on national issues and not personal attacks. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another. (Gal 5:15)
• Pray for leaders and officials who lead according to God’s righteous standards, bringing great blessing to our nation. Righteousness exalts a nation. (Prv 14:34)
• Pray a leader who desires the true peace of God in our land will take most electoral votes in your state. He makes peace within our borders. (Ps 147:14)
• Pray and decree the righteous votes will have most popular votes in your state, thereby obtaining the electoral votes for that state. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. (Jb 22:28)
• Ask God to bless our nation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Ps 33:12)

Do not let this prayer stop with “Amen.”

Ask God if there is anything else you can do to cultivate righteousness in our nation, or in your state. Don’t just pray. Vote. Vote in line with God’s word and His will. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Gather a group of friends and pray over the electoral votes in your state. Begin now. Claim every single electoral vote for God. Let’s remember, one person can make a difference, let that one be you.

Have you prayed for potential voters at Pray the Vote 2024? Check it out.

Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. For additional information, or to receive her daily writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com. Photo Credit: Intercessors for America.