Pray, Pray, Pray, Love, Love, Love

Over the past few days I have been thinking about this blog post and decided I would write it today no matter who won the election. So, I am writing today with the reality that Donald Trump is the president elect, rather than Hillary Clinton. All that I say to follow would also fit if the results had been different.

The question I want to take up is this, “Now that the election is over, what now?”

One way to answer this is to say there are three key words:  Pray, pray, pray! Or, I could say there are three key words:  Love, love, love!  Please indulge me to use both sets.

For those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, especially, we must continue with what should be our motivation for being involved in the public square:  Love, love, love. It is love for God and for others that should move us to advocate for the policies we do, to engage in the discussions we do, and when we disagree, to do so in a way we do not vilify the other person.

And one of the great ways we are involved by love is to pray for God’s wisdom, pray for those who are running, pray for each other, pray for the welfare of our towns, villages, cities, and nation. (I am not excluding the rest of the world, but my focus in this post is what we do as U.S. citizens toward each other)

So, given this two-part manifesto, let me suggest some ways we should love and pray…

Please love your fellow Christians who voted differently than you, pray for them, and pray that you can release any resentment you have toward them and any hurt you have experienced by them.

Please pray especially for those whom you know (Christian and not) who voted for Hillary Clinton and today are feeling awful and maybe even angry or depressed.

Please love those who voted differently than you enough to give them the benefit of the doubt that they believe the way they do because they think it’s best for the country.

Please love each other in the future enough that we can disagree without vilifying each other. To do so is a Christian virtue. This is something largely lost in our current society. Please pray that we can change this in the future and that Christ followers accomplish this by rallying around solid biblical wisdom and truth.

Please, if you voted for Donald Trump, do not gloat to those who voted for Hillary Clinton. If you are a follower of Christ and are motivated to be involved in the public square by love, also remember that the way forward is to react and move forward in love.

Please, if you voted for Hillary Clinton, do not be caustic or angry with Trump voters (see the previous point for the rest).

Please pray for our country and each other—that Christians especially can set the tone by showing to the rest of the country (and the world) how we can love each other in spite of our differences.

Please pray for Donald Trump and Mike Pence and their future cabinet, that God will work for the welfare of our towns, villages, states, and country, and in a manner that honors God. Pray that God will give them wisdom and that he will move them to act in integrity. Pray that they will keep their promises.

Please pray for Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff, who must feel awful today!  Most likely much of their identity had been tied up in a win. Many of their constituents will blame them and the days ahead will be hard. Pray for God’s grace and peace.

Please pray for each other that the passion and energy to discuss things, be involved, and to pray will continue on among the Church. May this passion that has been seen the past few months only be the beginning and not the end.

Please pray that our future elections will not digress into the gutter as this one did.

Please, Church, be the conscience and prophetic voice for the Trump administration. Be thankful and praise them when they do well. Hold them accountable when they don’t.

Please, Jesus followers, remember John 13:34-35 (NLT): “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

And finally, as we interact with each other now and in the future, by all  means please pray for one another that we can love one another by living out Ephesians 4:29-32 (NLT): “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”