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I usually don’t click on my computer Bible program’s daily “Devotional” tab, but today I did. It was set to “November 9 - Morning” in Daily Light on the Daily Path. Here’s the verse chosen for that day:
I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. — Psalm 89:19
That was striking! Earlier in this election year, when already depressed about its prospects, I felt God telling me, “It will be ‘a dark horse’.” When I was a boy, my dad told me ‘a dark horse’ was someone unexpected and unconnected to the political machine, who would come on the scene suddenly and take the lead. Well, that description fits Trump, especially the ‘dark’ part.
Feeling apathetic as Election Day approached, I wondered about how God feels—hardly ever getting to make clear-cut choices between bad and good alternatives in human history. He always has to decide the less evil of two or more evil situations. In this sin-cursed world of selfish human interactions, there’s no possible human scenario He can allow to happen that isn’t subject to some sort of ‘bad’ worming its way into it.
That’s how I felt about this election. My vote was powerless to bring about ‘good.’ I could only choose between the lesser of two evils, reluctantly following my own flawed human judgment about “the lesser.”
Yet, as far as the election results are concerned, this Scripture verse says my spontaneous prayer was right (theologically correct!). My voting job isn’t over. As a responsible citizen of God’s Kingdom, I must keep casting my vote before the King, praying, “Lord Jesus, grab hold of that man’s heart.”
Isn’t that always our Christian duty: to pray for those in political leadership? So, let’s pray that God will lay His “help upon one that is mighty.” If God has allowed Trump to be ‘a dark horse’—an “exalted one chosen out of the people”—then let’s vote in prayer that God cleanses the darkness from his heart and guides him to follow His wise and just ways in leading this nation.
I have been praying that God would give us the kind of leader who would be good for His people and good for His church, and I believe that He answered that prayer. Under a Clinton administration, we would undoubtably be told to renounce our faith or else. She has already said that herself. I would not be a matter of "if", just a matter of "when". I don't think we are going to face that kind of official-persecution under Trump.
ReplyDeleteWe DO need to pray that Mr. Trump come to true faith, if he hasn't already, and that God would gives him wisdom to rule justly and fairly. He has a huge job ahead of him, and he needs all the help he can get.
Blessings!
Steve
To be fair, Ms. Clinton did not say anything about us having to renounce our faith. What she said was that "some long-standing religious beliefs will have to change." And that is a very different thing, and something we may all agree on (at least a little).
DeleteWell said! April and I read this together. We enjoyed it. I appreciate the candid train of thought you spell out here. I too believe our duty at this point is to pray for our leaders. It's always been our duty.
ReplyDelete