With early voting wrapping up and Election Day just around the corner, tensions are high in our country right now. Whatever happens on Tuesday, the fallout will not be pleasant. We are fractured and divided, and there doesn’t seem to be a way back to unity. Stakes are high for this election, and many critical issues hang in the balance.

In the face of all this, what difference can one person possibly make?

Much more than you might think.

James 5:17 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Dear friends, we have the privilege of appealing to the God of the universe, who listens to each of His children and answers accordingly. If the prayer of one righteous person is powerful, how much more powerful would it be for many righteous persons to be praying?

Remember the national call to prayer in Esther 4:16? Queen Esther exhorted all the Jews in Susa to fast and pray for three days and nights before she approached the king. It was a national crisis and called for a national response. It is any different today? Will you please join me in focused, intentional prayer in the last few days leading up to the election? You don’t have to fast, but if it helps you focus, go right ahead! Fasting doesn’t have to be giving up food entirely, but perhaps you could give up one meal and spend that time praying instead. Or consider give up desserts, snacks, alcohol, or soft drinks for the duration of your own prayer vigil.

In keeping with Esther’s decree, I personally find three days to be a perfect length of time, so I will be devoting Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (Nov 3-5) to prayer on my end. If you can’t commit to three days, perhaps you can at least do one day and pray on Tuesday. Pray for wisdom in those who vote, those who will be elected, for an honest and fair election, and for the response of our nation after the results are announced. If you need any inspiration, there are a number of prayers you could start with  from the 12-Minute Prayer Challenge I posted three years ago. Repentance is an excellent place to start, followed by Leaders, and other posts that address issues such as Abortion, Marriage, “Racism”, Family Values,  Tolerance, Gender Identity, and more.

Perhaps for the duration of your own prayer vigil, you could set a timer to go off every hour to remind you to pray throughout the day. Or set aside specific times when you know you will be less distracted Han others. Maybe ask a friend, family member, or church member to pray with you. Whatever you do, may God bless your prayer time with Him, and may God’s good and gracious will be done on earth as it is in heaven!