A Little Down Over The Election? Here’s Some Great Counsel
James Hurley is one of the earliest supporters of HillFaith and his regular intercessory prayer alerts are a regular and much-appreciated feature in my email’s inbox. His latest alert hit home with me this morning and so I am sharing it with HillFaith readers weary from the constant drumbeat of election news:
Greetings to All:
So finally, after months and months of endless news reports . . . radio and TV advertisements . . . flyers stuffed in our mailboxes . . . and above all else, daily email and text messages imploring us to donate to that particular month’s mid-week of the mid-month FINAL deadline to save the nation! . . . after al of this . . . the winner is: . . . . well, it’s just that not everyone or every machine counts votes at the same speed, and we should just understand that counting 8 million votes on election night in one state doesn’t mean another state can count 3 million votes in a week.
And even when the abacuses are finally stored away over the next week(s), there’s still a runoff election in Georgia to keep the political campaign games front and center until early December! Go figure . . . it’s enough to cause one to consider unplugging computers, turning off cell phones and TVs, and taking a long winter nap until Spring. But before resorting to what would only be a temporary respite, we’ve been given some sound direction for times just such as this . . . .
Consider these words from the Apostle Paul:
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2
Now granted, Paul never had to deal with the American election cycles which now seem to be never-ending, but his encouragements to the Ephesians could certainly bring some peace and tranquility were we all willing to follow his directions.
And in the event last week’s elections have left you still questioning what and how the results came in as they did, let me suggest you shift your focus off of the daily political discourse and instead take some time this week, as you consider your own intercessory prayers for our nation, friends, families and loved ones, to read and absorb the message of another intercessory prayer penned almost two thousand years ago . . .
Do you remember an intercessory prayer the Apostle Paul shared with the early church in Ephesus?
“I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for eve and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:13-21
Oh, how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ . . . . a soothing balm for any election . . . yesterday, today and all our tomorrows!
To God be All Glory!