In God We Trust

It’s election season, which for most Americans is either viewed with complete terror or complete obliviousness.  Rarely is there an in between.  I grew up in a very political Christian home, I tagged along with my parents to vote, watched endless debates, and grew to have a very strong opinion on the matter.  Voting is an incredible freedom, and I look forward to heading out to the polls every chance I get.  Never do I feel more American than when I exercise my right to vote.  I realize that as a young person I am often in the minority when it comes to this.  So many people my age are under the impression that “My vote doesn’t matter” or they say things like “This world is not my home, so it doesn’t matter” (I have found that this is just a “spiritual” way of ending the conversation…).

So whether you find your self in a state of terror or obliviousness this election season I hope that with the help of God’s Word I can bring some encouragement.  Because God doesn’t want you scared, but He doesn’t want you passive either.  He placed you in this country with the rights that you have for a reason.  He has not failed you yet, and regardless of who is sleeping in the White House He isn’t going to fail you now.

Exercise Your Rights But Don’t Abuse Them.

This can apply to both types of people I mentioned earlier those that ignore and those who abuse.  You can not make a difference if you do not participate just like you can not win the lottery if you do not buy a ticket.  Are you chances of being the one deciding vote slim? Yes, but so are your chances of winning the mega-millions.  Every vote matters, if no one voted nothing would get done or someone would make decisions for all us.  All candidates are human therefore no candidate is perfect, but some are certainly better than others.  So at least consider voting.  If you honestly can not see yourself voting for either of the final candidates in November that’s fine, to each their own…we will get to other ways you can help in a little bit.

On the other end of the spectrum there are the abusers…you know who you are.  From Facebook rants to threats of moving to Canada you are not hard to spot.  Aside from the weather (too cold for this girl, no thank-you!) , I am going to avoid Canada simply because of the people planning to move there.  If you are old enough to vote then that means you are an adult, so let’s all stop with the name calling, hate spewing, and indecency.  Because none of you are going anywhere and we are tired of the Facebook posts.

2 Peter 2:13-17 talks about submitting to ever form of human authority, there is no fine print.  This verse is not subject to who is in the office this term or next.  It goes on to say that by doing good we should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  I can see this meaning a couple different things, either silencing foolishness by going out to vote, or by simply being a nice and refraining from rude political conversation.  Next, it says to live as free people, exercise your rights.  Lastly, be nice.  You can have an opinion without disrespecting someone else or belittling them.

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,  or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.  Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” // 1 Peter 2:13-17

God Trumps Over All.

See what I did there… I will be the first to tell that I am not a huge fan of any of the candidates this time around.  But I do serve the King of the Universe so I find refuge in knowing everything will be ok.  I mean honestly do we believe that God can not use someone like Hillary, Donald, Bernie or Ted for good?  That God who is notorious for using criminals, adulterers, harlots, thieves and murderers can not use any political candidate for His own good.  God can use anyone, electing a less desirable President does not remove God from the scene.  People remove God from the scene not circumstances.

If we are to be a nation that proclaims “In God We Trust”  we should probably trust God to take care of our nation no matter what.  Otherwise it is merely a cute phrase that causes a lot of controversy.  Trust is not easy, in fact it is a daily battle of mine to trust God wholeheartedly.  I am human and I often have this perception of how things should go and when they do not go that way I feel like the world has fallen apart.  Only after I have used all of my own energy to fix said problem does it occur to me to turn to God.  Let’s not do that this election season…let’s quit researching flights to Canada and start trusting God to finish what He started.  The more we try to take control of everything the more we remove God and replace Him with ourselves.  I do not know about you, but I can not handle that kind of pressure.  All things work together for the good of those who love Him.

“all things work for the good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.” —Romans 8:28

Less Posting, More Praying.

This may or may not be a given, but let’s “Pray” this election season.  Pray that God would move, that he would convict the very heart of America not just the presidential candidates. Pray for fear to be removed and replaced with power, love and self-control.  To bind the forces of the enemy’s attacks against our beautiful country.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms“, Ephesians 6:12. the candidates are merely spawns of a bigger battle going on, a battle to divide our nation from God and each other.

Be careful of what you post or comment this election season.  You have a choice to lift each other or tear each other done.  If confrontation is necessary do the research, get the facts and present it in love.  Hate and rudeness will get you no where, if you want to have a voice do so in love.  Facebook and Twitter wars do not win elections, people coming together for the greater good do.

“the Lord did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7

So let’s stand together to quit ranting and start praying.   To say “In God we trust” and mean it.  To start exercising and stop abusing. We are Americans, but more importantly we are citizens of heaven and we have a job here on earth.  A job to pray, protect and participate not just during the election season but in every season.

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” —Matthew 6:10

 

With Love,