Precious Lord, we your people confess that we have...
.. allowed this election to affect our hearts and capture our attention in a way that we have not allowed you to do.
.. instead of loving our neighbor, we have demonized and scorned them and declared them enemies.
.. believed that ideologies and legislation are worthy of dividing the church over, when you prayed that we would be one and that others would know us by our love.
.. desired to legislate our way into being a Christian nation, when only true love for you and for others can accomplish such a thing.
.. been tempted to trust in military might, wealth, and rulers rather than your sovereign hand.
.. believed that particular solutions and ideas are "the answer" for our nation when you alone are the answer for our nation.
.. not loved and prayed for our candidates as you have commanded, but instead we have attacked, maligned, and spread rumors about them.
.. allowed fear to rule in our hearts instead of your perfect peace.
.. allowed ourselves to believe that your kingdom cannot stand if this election does not go the way we want it to.
Lord forgive us of these sins. Let us not despair of any election result any more than we despair of our own helpless estate without Christ. Teach us how to walk forward together with kindness and grace. Show us your ways, O Lord. Amen.
