A Prayer for Leadership
Posted by Great God, on November 8, 2016, the people of the United States will elect a new president. We know that guidance is needed for voters and candidates alike.
News: The Republican Party is holding its presidential nomination convention in Cleveland, Ohio, from July 18 – 21; Donald Trump will be their candidate for president. The Democratic Party is holding its convention from July 25 – 28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hillary Clinton will be their candidate for president. The Libertarian Party held its convention May 26 – 30 in Orlando, Florida; Gary Johnson is their candidate for president. The Green Party will hold their convention August 4 – 7 in Houston, Texas; Jill Stein is expected to be their candidate for president.
And so we pray this news . . .
A Prayer for Leadership
by Joan Chittister, OSB
Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.
In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than development for ourselves —
though development we hope for —
more than security for our own land —
though security we need —
more than satisfaction for our wants —
though many things we desire.
Give us the hearts to choose the leader
who will work with other leaders
to bring safety
to the whole world.
Give us leaders
who lead this nation to virtue
without seeking to impose our kind of virtue
on the virtue of others.
Give us a government
that provides for the advancement
of this country
without taking resources from others
to achieve it.
Give us insight enough ourselves
to choose as leaders those who can tell
strength from power,
growth from greed,
leadership from dominance,
and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.
We trust you, Great God,
to open our hearts to learn from those
to whom you speak in different tongues
and to respect the life and words
of those to whom you entrusted
the good of other parts of this globe.
We beg you, Great God,
give us the vision as a people
to know where global leadership truly lies,
to pursue it diligently,
to require it to protect human rights
for everyone everywhere.
We ask these things, Great God,
with minds open to your word
and hearts that trust in your eternal care.
Also Recommended:
- In time for the national elections, “The Legacy of Leadership” by Joan Chittister is now available in a new pamphlet format that includes Sister Joan's entire "A Prayer for Leadership" along with short reflections on the nature of leadership itself. Order from Benetvision.)
- Our collection of Prayers for Our Leaders includes more prayers by Richard J. Foster, Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson, Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, and the New Zealand Prayer Book.