A prayer for our leaders - old and new

Our all holy and powerful God,

• You are the best of fathers, so we know we can trust that You arranged last night's election for Your own eternal purposes to be set in motion.  
• Give us grateful hearts that we live in a land in which political contests do not erode into civil war and ethnic cleansing or religious pogroms.  For 225 years You have ordained that our nation have a peaceful balance and frequent transfer of power.  Such a thing is very rare in the history of mankind, and we praise You with awe that we are privileged to experience its benefits ourselves.
• Just as we teach our children, please give us the grace, in the wake of last night's elections, neither to win in a boastful, condescending way nor lose full of self-pity and unthankful bitterness.
• We pray for those You sovereignly ordained for public office in our land:
• That they might exercise their influence and authority for the good of Your church, "that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way." (I Timothy 2:2)
• That they might give us daily reason to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything, knowing that this is Your will for us in Christ Jesus."  (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• That they might prove examples to our nation and the world of common grace which pleases You, loving their spouses in a way which mirrors the truth of the gospel (Ephesians 5:22-33), caring for their children in a way which engenders respect and obedience (Colossians 3:21), doing good to everyone, especially those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) and  making wise decisions in harmony with your global plan to spread a passion for Your glory and bless all people (Genesis 1:26-28, 12:3).
• That they might exercise their authority with care and righteousness, calling sin 'sin', exalting justice and bearing the sword in a way which increases security, blesses law-abiders and punishes law-breakers, yielding peace in the land (Romans 13:1-7).  
• That they might have compassion for those in need of justice and benevolence (Amos 5:24), and require every able person to work hard in supplying for their own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).
• That, by Your great mercy, You might convict them of personal sin as well as the sins of our land, leading to their own repentance and trust in the grace of Christ as Savior and Lord (Acts 2:37-41, 13:12, 26:28-29).
• In all things give us joy that "our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases."

In the powerful, matchless name of Christ we praise and thank You.  Amen.