I don’t think you can live in America right now and avoid all the chatter…or screaming about this upcoming presidential election. On the Back 9…as I sit and listen more…talk less but pray a ton…I observe the disheartening things…..
…it grieves my heart.
As believers in Jesus, our first and most heartfelt desire should be for the salvation of all. That any and everyone should come to understand who Jesus is and that they can have a personal relationship with Him. Matthew 28:19 should still be our focus even during an election year. “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'”
As my dear friend Jack Easterby tweeted most recently, “Elephants and Donkeys will let us down…follow the Lamb.” I couldn’t agree more. When Franklin Graham was in Columbia I heard him speak as he was urging all believers to pray for this election…and for the leadership in our country.
With these two thoughts in mind, wouldn’t it be great, absolutely amazing, if we all prayed instead of lashing out our opinions? Asking the Lord that both nominees, through this election, would come to know Jesus Christ…even a “Damascus Road” experience. If it happened for Paul, it could happen for Hillary or Donald or any other candidate.
Are we in control or is God?
God is!
We are in control of our hearts and our prayers and our tongues! “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:7-10).
I can’t think of a better person to endorse someone like Donald Trump and travel with him than Ben Carson. Someone who loves Jesus…who is brilliant…and just might be the one to lead Donald to Christ!!!
As for Hillary, I am asking God every day to surround her with His love and that she would meet Jesus. He loves her just as much as he loves me. We don’t know God’s plan but I know for sure one thing…He is in control…and HE does have a plan. That plan could include “suffering” and we should count it all joy…if that leads more people to Christ. We are to pray for our “enemies”–the people who oppose us.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust'” (Matthew 5:43-45).
At this point in the process of electing a new leader for this country, one thing we cannot forget: God is in control. He always has been and always will be. Our job is to pray…to love…..and to be Jesus….to others…regardless of their political opinions.
It is time for Christians to start acting like Christians….and fall on our knees before a God who always hears the prayers of the righteous. If this country is going to remain a Christian nation, the first step is for Christians to start acting like ones.
“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).