election day

This morning, as I was sweating my little heart out on the eliptical machine at the YMCA, a great Chris Tomlin song came on my iPod that is a perfect fit for the changes our country is facing today.

'God of this City' by Chris Tomlin

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation You are
You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things have still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And great things are still to be done in this city

(You can click here to listen to it.)

As I was listening and running, I started to think more and more about today's presidential election. A new understanding of the word "election" began to form. I thought about how scripture says that we, believers, are God's elect, His chosen ones.

I know that nothing can be likened to the all-knowing, fully wise choices that our God makes, but it did allow me to draw a parallel. We, as Americans, vote on and choose who will be our next leader. In the grander scheme of things, though, God has elected and chosen us, His children, to be instruments for Him "for such a time as this". In the same way that we desire an honorable president who will lead our nation with honesty, integrity, and wisdom, God's desire is that His chosen ones stand up and do the same. That we mark each ballot prayerfully and carefully, and that we continue, regardless of who He places in office, to honor and obey God above any candidate, political party, or anything else that might distract from Him in our daily lives. That might seem like a very elementary parallel, but it meant something to me this morning, so I wanted to share.

Be praying for our nation and its leaders today, along with every single voter!