VOTE! . . . PRAY!!!

For the past few months you have been barraged by a repeated, urgent, and impact-promising one word directive: VOTE!  No matter what side you are on, the instruction is the same: VOTE!  We know we cannot individually change America, but voting is a small way our individual voice speaks collectively into a community chorus, and is a part of the shaping of the present and future of our great nation. 

​By the time you get this, the election will be over (probably . . . possibly . . . well, at least your part in voting will be done!).  There will have been a deep breath and celebration if your party won, or a sinking let down temporary despair if your party lost.  Regardless, your vote was cast with everyone else’s and your political role is done for a few years.  Time to get back to dealing with the daily challenges of the immediate personal life in your home, work, and community.  

We as Americans hold this one word “vote” so dear, cherish it as an idea and ideal, and participate in an effort to change the world for the better by turning it into action once every couple of years.  

In Scripture, there is a one word directive that is also repeated, urgent, and impact promising.  PRAY!  (Philippians 4: 6, Matt. 6: 9-13, 26: 41, Ephesians 6: 18, 1 Timothy 2: 8, James 5: 13-18, Romans 12: 12, and so many more!)

But there is not God of the Democrats and God of the Republicans, there is one God and He is King of whoever seeks Him.  And instead of it being a small way our individual voice speaks collectively, our prayers are received directly by the King!  And we, as Christians, know we cannot individually change the world, but we know that He can THROUGH us!  

When we pray, we are not asking for God to bid OUR will, we are offering ourselves to bid HIS will!  And after we pray, we only not disheartened if we didn’t get our way, we celebrate because we get His (John 15: 7)! 

After the prayer is done, we get back to dealing with the daily challenges of the immediate personal life in our homes, work, and community.  But instead of our vote being in the past and the power in a distant political district, our prayer is in the present and the power is in the Holy Spirit IN US!  
Pray for our leaders, our nation, the worldwide body of Christ, and those who are on the front line of defending them. ​