How to View the Election with Hope and Peace
I had another post written for today when I realized it’s the morning after the U.S. Presidential election. So, I’m saving that one for another day because the Lord has prompted me to share something else.
Many of us voted yesterday and did so with strong feelings about the outcome. With that in mind, assuming we know the election results, I imagine some of you are happy and relieved and some are upset and concerned about the future.
It’s possible that even if your candidate won, you’re feeling anxious about the country’s future. I understand. Our political leaders and media personalities have done their best to tell us that we’re about to experience the end of freedom as we know it.
Things may change, that’s true, but not even the most powerful authorities in the world have absolute authority.
I was reminded of the following truth as I read these words from Paul…
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1 (NIV)
The Life Application Bible Notes add the following…
“Christians agree that we are to live at peace with the state as long as the state allows us to live by our religious convictions. [No understanding of this verse] advocates rebellion against the government’s laws or regulations unless those laws clearly require you to violate the moral standards revealed by God.”
As followers of Christ, we are children of God called to faith in Him which prompts us to TRUST and OBEY His will.
Remember…
God used countless terrible kings to accomplish His plans and purposes. Here are just a few…
- Pharoah made slaves of God’s people and refused to free them.
- Ahab promoted idolatry and child sacrifice.
- Nebuchadnezzar took God’s people captive to Babylon.
- Herod the Great fulfilled prophecy by killing baby boys in Bethlehem.
- Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist.
Whenever God allowed an evil ruler in Scripture, He did so to show His people how very much they needed to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST Him.
No matter who sits on earthly thrones, the Lord alone is forever and always King of kings and Lord of lords.
A Psalmist wrote…
The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.
Psalm 93:1–2
Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world stands firm
and cannot be shaken.
Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.
You Yourself are from the everlasting past.
However you feel today, God is in control! When the enemy challenges you with fear and anxiety about the future … remind him who’s in charge and keep an eternal perspective. Whatever happens here is temporary. Leaders come and go but the promises of the Lord last forever…
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to View the Election
with Hope and Peace
Father God, You are well aware of all the unrest that has led up to this election. Promises and accusations have flowed from both sides and people have chosen the person they believe is best for the country.
Today, some are relieved and some are devastated. I come to You in faith trusting that whoever has been elected You are on the throne. You reign over all Your creation. You use persons and circumstances to accomplish Your plans and purposes.
Your desire is for “everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” about Jesus and Your grace, mercy, and love. (1 Timothy 2:4) I pray, whether we are happy today or not, that You will help us all focus on the truth of Your eternal promises. You will bring many to SEEK and TRUST Your Son and our Savior, Jesus.
Then please prepare our hearts and minds for His return. May we focus on the things that last forever and always. May we love You and people as You desire.
Finally Lord, will You turn the hearts and minds of our leaders to You. May they make God-honoring decisions following Your commands in ways that bless us and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
The Holy Spirit inspired Timothy to write…
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1–4
In the days and weeks ahead, may we diligently pray for our leaders asking the Lord to give them knowledge of the truth, wisdom, and a desire to be just and righteous.
God be with you, bless you, and give you His peace. He is Lord of all! He has a plan and nothing will stand in His way.
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What a great message, Deb. Yes, I’m happy and I know God is our sovereign and forever Lord. Blessings!
Thanks so much, sweet friend! God bless you!
Thank you. I just shaared this on Facebook. Having friends on both ends of the political spectrum and everywhere in between, I’m looking for unity and peace. Beautifully written.
Thank you so much, Kim. Thanks for sharing it as well. I’m joining you in prayer asking the Lord to unite us and give us His peace. Blessings and hugs!
Amen, Deb! I pray to react with grace in any differences I have with anyone. I am also praying that our leaders look always to God and lead our nation with grace, humility, and dignity. We have become such a country of weariness and disillusion, and I pray for America to once again become “One Nation Under God.” I pray constantly for healing for our nation, but accepting God’s will always. GOD is INDEED the RULER of the world and offers grace to all. I pray today for God to heal our land with His Amazing Grace as we extend grace to each other, even those we may think of as enemies. Giving God all the praise, all the glory and trusting always in HIM! May hope and joy be with all those who read this today! Thank you for this grace filled post today! Love and hugs, dear friend!
I am joining you in those prayers, Kathy! I know many of us have been praying and asking the Lord to heal our nation. May this be the beginning of revival and change. God’s richest blessings! Hugs!!
From a neighbor to the north, who doesn’t understand the results, but trusts God’s plan and timing, I pray the same for all of you, for all of the United States…May you all stand UNITED in His plan and timing❤️
Thank you, JoAnne! I appreciate your visit, your encouragement to us all, and your prayers. God bless you!
I love all of this post, and I especially love the part where you said leaders come and go but the promises of God are forever!! That is so very true. I am happy and hope, like Kathy and others that our leaders will follow the Laws of our Lord. We have a great country. God should always be front and center of all we do.
God bless you my sweet friend. You wrote a beautiful post today, (of course, you always do)
Thanks so much, dear friend! I agree! Oh, that we could have revival and turn back to the Lord as a nation. God bless you!!
Perfect message and so direct to the truth, thank you, just what all needs to hear and understand.
Thanks so much, Alice! Continuing to pray for the Lord to heal and unite the country. God bless you!
For me, this election had absolutely nothing to do with the candidates. But everything to do with what they represented. The current leadership went out of its way to turn their nose and thumb up on God. They challenged His sovereignty, they despised God’s laws, even His very name. They challenged God’s creation of a men and a women. This was the first time in this country’s history that the foundation of this Nation on God was questioned and challenged. It was also the first time that God was omitted from official communication. It was the same challenge that Satan issued at the beginning of the ages in his quest for God’s throne. Our leadership became wicked toward God. Wicked is disobedience to Holy God. Wickedness is deliberate, willful, rejecting the Truth of the Word of God, not only by what we say, but by the way we live.
In these past years it came to culmination that we’ve become a compromising nation. We have accepted ways of life that absolutely are forbidden, and warned by God there will absolutely be a judgment. We have allowed our faith to be questioned; our convictions to be questioned; our lifestyle to be changed. And we have allowed it to happen right before our eyes.
For me, this was at stake at this election…..God’s honor and the big question, if we as a Nation, willing to recognize how far we got from God, His will and law, and repent as the Ninevehians did and return to Him.
If a nation has drifted from the Lord, then even when leaders consider themselves advanced and intellectual, their thinking nevertheless becomes darkened (Ephesians 4:17-18). Soon sin is commonplace and considered acceptable among the people. We have to stand up for what we believe. We’re to be true to the Word of God. We know what the Truth is.
God warned us – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life”.
If you look at the way we’re living as a nation, we don’t believe this passage. You can’t turn up your nose at God and just say, ‘Well, we’re going to do what we want to do and we’re going to be blessed anyway and we’re going to get by with it’. God says, “Whatever a man, sows, this he will also reap”. You can’t change that.
Not just God bless America, but God, turn America around. Send us whatever is necessary to bring us to repentance.
I love that you included Nebuchadnezzar Deb. As he is a perfect example of God’s endless mercy. While he was a ruthless king, he too turned his life around and surrendered to the one God. Nothing is impossible to an omnipotent God 🙂
I used previously quotes from Reagan, and these are two that have very special meaning to me –
“”Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.”
“We must be cautious in claiming God is on our side. I think the real question we must answer is, ARE WE ON HIS SIDE?”
Apologies for the long winded comment…