A Prayer for Election Day

For peace and every good for all the candidates, their families, both now and in the future,     Lord, have mercy. For a peaceful election day, free from violence, fear, and hate,     Lord, have mercy. For forgiveness for the ways in which we've demonized, scapegoated, or vilified any candidate or supporter of any candidate,     Lord, have mercy. For deliverance from the ways in which social media and the news have swallowed our hope and shattered our peace,     Lord, have mercy. For help to remember that our primary allegiance is not to any candidate or country, but to Jesus Christ, the only eternal, wise, and merciful king,     Lord, have mercy. No matter what happens, help us to love instead of hate, to listen instead of judge, and to hope instead of fear.Amen.