TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Warning: I’m about to talk about politics. I’m a raging hypocrite, and I’m breaking my own rule. But, because this is my last blog before next week’s election, I really want to plead for anyone who reads this to pray for our country. I’m not going to lie – I’m nervous about election night. I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety about next Tuesday. A friend of ours shared that her husband (who is a state trooper) and other law enforcement have been told to be prepared to go out either way on election night. Please pray for him and the safety of our law enforcement. I don’t think any of my readers are Antifa supporters, but some important information to remember about our law enforcement: 1) Not every police officer is bad; we have demonized the whole because of the actions of a few. 2) These people aren’t responsible for making the laws, but upholding them (hence their title – Law ENFORCEment). So don’t punish them for doing their job. 3) These people have families waiting for them at home, and yet, they risk their own safety for us.
Beyond the fact that the country is being pulled apart at the seams (something I never thought I’d see), our Christian community is falling apart too. We are treating these politicians as if they are part of the Gospel. Let me be clear — my vote is NOT based on a person. My vote is decided and is based on policy. And, no — I have not voted yet. I am digging in my heels and being stubborn. I will vote ON Election Day. I will go to the polls on Tuesday and present my driver’s license, which I’ll be told they don’t need, and I’ll defiantly say, “Yes, unfortunately, I know that, but I want you to be confident that I am who I say I am,” and then I’ll vote, collect my pen, and go home. That whole voter ID thing is a whole other soapbox that I will refrain from getting into…
Are there flaws in both camps? Absolutely! I’ve heard it said many times that Christians who represent the different sides of the political aisle could back up their causes in the Bible, sometimes even using the same Scripture. If you can back up your argument, let’s hear it! As long as you aren’t twisting God’s Word to make your point, then by all means — the Bible should be the ultimate lens through which we form our opinions. Though if you think you can make an argument for abortion in Scripture, good luck. Not going to happen. Read Exodus 20:13.
I have been far more outspoken in recent months than I ever intended to be. In a blog I wrote dated 8.28.2020, titled “Vote Your Faith,” I said, “We should be running our politics through the filter of our faith, not adjusting our faith to work within the context of our politics!” Through social media and news outlets, I have seen some pastors (national, regional, and local) who need to remember this. I’ve seen some pastors who are so focused on what is “justice” that they forget that the justice they seek will not happen without Jesus!
So — you want an end to social unrest? You want an end to injustice? Welcome Jesus back to our homes, schools, and country. Go out and preach Jesus to others! Because you will not find an end to these issues apart from Jesus. Let me say that one more time, but louder, for those in the back — YOU WILL NOT FIND IT APART FROM JESUS. Why on earth does any Christian expect to find peaceful utopia on this earth? Let me fill you in on a little secret — there is a utopia. It’s hidden and inaccessible to us. It’s called the Garden of Eden. And after Adam and Eve messed things up there, God kicked them out, and cherubim now guard the garden with flaming swords (Genesis 3:24). Beyond that — Utopia doesn’t exist apart from heaven.
But we live in a world of participation trophies where everything should be equal and fair. But let me state this lest anyone forget it: There was NOTHING fair about the cross at Calvary. Fair doesn’t happen in this fallen, broken world. If everything were fair, you and I would have been nailed to that cross — not the perfect Son of God. He did that for us to save us from eternal damnation. Perfection and fairness are coming. But not until after Jesus returns to set up His millennial kingdom. Of course, we should do our part to be fair and kind, and loving. But stop expecting global fairness. AGAIN, it’s a fallen, broken world. Satan is having a hey-day because his time is short. Sin is rampant. And sin looks ugly because it is ugly.
If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I typically don’t get into controversial topics. But I’m simply worn out. I’m worn out from government leaders trying to dictate my every movement and the media shoving their fear-mongering and biased agenda. And though he’s not my governor, I’m sick to death of even hearing about ridiculous ordinances such as California Governor Gavin Newsome, who thinks he 1) can and 2) has the right to dictate how families celebrate Thanksgiving! Enough is enough! We have done the shut down; businesses are ruined; lives are destroyed; suicide rates are up; divorce rates are up; child abuse and domestic violence are up — is this REALLY how we want to live our lives??? Is this really how we want to define America, the home of the free because of the brave???
The other irony to me is how many small business owners and entrepreneurs who, on the one hand, seek to make money and, on the other, decry capitalism as evil. They are bemoaning their lack of business and falling profit margins. Gee, your profits are down, and you’re struggling??? And you wonder why??
Common sense isn’t so common.
And so — the point of today’s topic: Have I made a strong enough case as to why our country DESPERATELY needs prayer??? Specifically, we need to pray:
- For our leaders. Whether you like them or not. It’s Biblical. Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
- Pray for wisdom. Especially if you are still undecided about your vote. Pray for God to guide you according to His truth. Read James 1:5.
- Pray for our leaders to have wisdom. Goodness knows they need it. Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 again. Then, read Proverbs 13:10.
- Pray for our police and law enforcement. Read Romans 13:1-14.
- Pray for all those who claim to want peace and justice but demonstrate it with violence. Read Titus 3:1-2, then read Luke 6:27.
- Pray for revival. More than anything, pray for our people, our country, our world — pray for people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14.
- Pray for yourself — that You will be a light in this dark, sinful world. If you want change — start by asking Jesus to change YOU. Read Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 John 5:14.
Today, as you pray, pray for all of these things. And thank God that He already knows the outcome of this election. Pray frequently, and as we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing.”
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
One Response
I love your heart! You’re thought-provoking and passionate, and we should talk about the voter ID thing some day. I know I can’t vote at my polling station or at the courthouse without ID, so I never understand how “that’s not necessary” coming from other places… anyway, LOVE YOU BIG BIG!