Unleashed: As You Go – Pray
Unleashed – As you go – Pray
“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” Romans 12:2 TPT
On November 3 our nation will officially cast their ballots for multiple individuals across the nation, for both national and state level offices. I have experienced lots of elections, both in the United States and overseas, and, unfortunately, as we become more secularized as a nation and world, the negativity and mudslinging increase.
Regardless of who you vote for, some will win, others lose. Results may drag on for days, weeks, or maybe months. One party or the other will probably contest the election. Commentators will analyze the results and give their “unbiased” opinions. Frustration and disappointment, or satisfaction and celebration, will be equally expressed across the nation.
We watch as our cities overflow with anger, hatred, violence and destruction. We have witnessed the worst of politics through the degrading of other’s characters and ideas. We were bombarded with accusations and half-truths. Yet our hope is not in the ugly events of the day but in Jesus Christ.
So, I ask the question as a Christ-follower: “What do I do on November 4?”
My short answer: I will do what I did the day before and what I will do the day after, keep my eyes upon Jesus. I can’t control the outcome of the election but I can control my attitude. I can’t control the violence in the streets but I can be a refuge of peace for others. I can’t control the bitterness that comes out of others but I can control the words that flow from my soul.
On November 4 the world is going to need us to be springs of living water for them to drink from. Let the world see Christians, who may have disagreed on the election, still come together on Sunday to worship, pray and fellowship together. Let the world see us united in the One who gives us life.
On that day, as every day, let our life be lived as Romans 12 Christ-focused people. As followers of Christ we will focus on:
- Love that is sincere, devoted to one another in love and honoring one another
- Serving the Lord with spiritual fervor
- Being joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer
- Sharing with those in need and practicing hospitality
- Blessing others even if they persecute us
- Rejoicing with those rejoicing and mourning with those who mourn
- Seeking to live in harmony with one another, not prideful, not conceited, not repaying evil for evil
- Taking care to do right, living at peace and rejecting revenge
- Overcoming evil with good
Living a Romans 12 lifestyle could have a transformative impact on a world that is in need of a drink from the cup of grace that only God offers. However, it only happens as we stay in oneness with Jesus. As Oswald Chambers wrote, “Keep at the Source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness.”
“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” Romans 12:1 TPT
God is great on November 4 – as He is forever!
Pastor Lynn