A POLITICAL CANDIDATE’S PRAYER

Lord please bless me as I start today forty five challenging days and nights of a mission to share with my people my aspirations for a better life for them and their children.

Guide me Oh Lord so that I will not stray away from the righteous and lawful path of political campaigning, so that I will not be tempted to use force or material things to influence the decision of my people.

Bless me with Your wisdom so that I will remain focused on the issues that matter most in the campaign – poverty, justice, education, health, peace and order and security, the environment, understanding and tolerance among my people and their hope for a better life.

Grant me the strength my Lord to be able to withstand the rigors of the campaign and cover me with your Divine shield to ward off danger and evil plans.

Shower me with endless patience and understanding so that I will not react angrily or violently to any provocation or verbal attacks and insults that I will be subjected to during the campaign.

Please help me remember that the election is the moment when the voices of my people, Your Voice, must reverberate and be heard as they choose their leader who will guide them through the trials and tribulations of life.

If they should choose me, grant me Oh Lord a magnanimous heart so that I will stand as my people’s leader capable of forgetting the bitterness of the campaign and offering a hand in reconciliation.

If they should look the other way and elect my political rival, please calm my human feelings so that I will accept the results without anger, envy or hatred but with a happy heart.

Most of all my Lord, please make me realize always that the election is all about choosing Your leaders in this world who will serve and take care of Your people for Your greater glory.

These things I ask of You in the name of Jesus, my Lord and my Savior.

Amen.

Emmanuel F. Pinol

Candidate for Provincial Governor

NPC North Cotabato

March 29, 2013

(photo credit: this photo was downloaded from photobucket.com)