We are days away from the American presidential election. Many of us are experiencing mixed feelings: exhaustion, fear, anxiety, and confusion. In such a momentous season, we would do well to breathe deeply, pick up our Bibles, and read 1 Timothy 2:1–2. Paul wrote this:

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (ESV)

These beautiful words remind us that we, as Christians, must pray for our national leaders. By extension, we also should pray for those running for office.

• - Pray for their salvation.
• - Pray that they will exercise moral leadership.
• - Pray that God will be glorified in all things political.
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Our goal, after all, is to lead “a peaceful and quiet life.”

Now, in late 2024, let us heed God’s Word. Let us pray for a president who will honor God’s vision for government—a leader who will reward good and punish evil (Romans 13:1-7). Then, having prayed, let us exercise our rights and responsibilities as citizens: let us vote according to our conscience.

Acting according to our conscience does not mean doing whatever we want. To the contrary, our conscience must be marinated in Scripture. We are not free moral agents. We are Christians—God’s people living under His rule, and our faith is holistically ordered to moral action.

• - Ours is the faith of Joseph, who was appointed to the pinnacle of Egyptian power.
• - Ours is the faith of Esther, who was uniquely positioned to save the Jews.
• - Ours is the faith of Daniel, who was called to be a righteous example among pagans.
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These faithful figures call us to emulate their model. None opted out of a fallen world. They each lived in pagan places and occupied influential positions, not by their planning and plotting. God strategically placed them for His purposes.

Likewise, our heavenly Father has placed us where we are today “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Through our vote, we have an incredible opportunity to oppose godless neo-Marxism and to support unborn babies, religious liberty, the natural family, marriage, the free market, national border security, legal citizenship, and global peace through strength.

Our prayer at JDFI is that we will do so—that we will hear the ringing bell of urgency and purpose, and then answer.