Post Election America

I think that there is no denying that Obama's victory last night has heralded in many historic things- some very good and some I wish were not going to come to pass. But I stand as an American today, November 5th, and I commit to praying for President-Elect Obama, his wife and daughters, his VP-Elect Joe Biden, and his staff he will be appointing.

I have been so encouraged by the responses from my brothers and sisters in Christ to this election's results. We are called by the Lord to respect those in authority over us, to pray for them, and to submit to them. I believe that the Lord can use Obama according to His good and perfect will to bring about what He desires- be it blessing because we repent (and there are plenty of sins on both sides of the political fence!) or be it discipline to a nation that has given itself over to all sorts of evils.

This can even include waking up us Christians if we have been complacent to bring His Word to light in this world. If Obama's policies, judicial appointments, and speeches are things that produce actions that are contrary to God's precious Word, we are called to stand up and say so. We are also called to serve, serve, serve. This man is giving up his personal life and comforts to serve the entire country. We need to get in the trenches and continue to make a difference as well. We need to serve the poor, the orphans, the pregnant teenagers who are wrestling with their choices-- anyone who is marginalized and in need of a loving, helping hand.

I believe the next 4 years will be a time when Christians won't have a chance to hide or be complacent as we have had a chance to do under President Bush. I also believe that the persecution we are going to face for us standing up for certain things is going to get more intense. The public voted in a candidate who stands in direct oppposition to certain Biblical beliefs, so we have a public who has possibly cast a vote in part because of those stances. Now is the time to speak the truth in love and the serve those who need a helping hand.

My partisan view- Let us also pray for Israel during this time. I'm not sure what exactly to pray- wisdom on the part of their leaders, wisdom for Obama and a passion that would rise up in him to care for and protect Israel more than getting an agenda passed to have "peace in the Middle East". I do pray for peace, but not at the cost of the Holy Land being parceled out or given to those who claim it last. It was first and foremost the land God gave to the Israelites. Religious texts have become a forefront issue in the land conflict for the Jews and Muslims. However, it seems many Americans want to discredit the power that religious tradition and beliefs have over who gets this land. Many "just want peace" or want "fairness." But the Lord has given this land to the Israelites and they were returned to it in 1948. It is theirs by His power and will be when Jesus returns for His millenial reign on this earth.

What are your thoughts on the months and years ahead?