Our Identity Is With Christ, Not Political
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, Help me keep my focus on You during this election season, Amen
“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”
Romans 7:14-17, 21-25 NIV
REFLECT:
During the election season of 2016 I did what a lot of United States citizens did, I lay awake at night stewing about the election for president. I had a lot of misgivings about both candidates, but I was really concerned about the potential effect one candidate would have on the country. I spent many hours thinking about the “what ifs.’ My stomach was really churned up over it and I just could not get any peace about it.
I was blessed by being in a men’s Bible Study of Romans. Chapters 9-12 spend much time laying out the sovereignty of God and the fact that nothing happens in this world that hasn’t gone through the hands of God. I realized that while I knew this fact, I was much like Paul being torn between what I knew I should do and the temptation to try to handle it myself. It wasn’t until the group got to Romans 13 that I finally found peace. It states, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 NLT.
The Presidential Prayer Team Devotional for October 11, 2022, clarifies this even more. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16
“God is sovereign, and He loves justice. He has occasionally raised up leaders that were not His perfect will. God said, “I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath” (Hosea 13:11). Israel had pressed God for a king like other countries had. God allowed a king and established his throne, but in the end, King Saul’s kingdom ceased, and God replaced him with His choice, King David.”
APPLY:
I also found that praying for the election helped me gain peace about the election. A member of our Sunday School class suggested that we all agree to pray for the election that year. We decided to pray every Saturday at noon for the election and our country. My wife and I have continued praying most Saturdays since the spring of 2016. We have found three resources that have guided these prayer times. The Presidential Prayer Team, The Vote, and Intercessors for America all are available through email and their websites. Praying for the country and realizing God is sovereign helps during these turbulent times preceding the upcoming mid-term elections.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, I realize “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Help me to trust Your wisdom and rest in Your peace. (Romans 13:1NLT) Amen