PREPARING FOR PERSECUTION - 1 (Post-election balance and the future)

Dear sisters and brothers,

Republicans, conservatives, Christian journalists and talk show hosts are weighing in on why Barack Obama won the (2008) election when we prayed so ardently that he wouldn't. One well-known pastor who prophesied that Sarah Palin would be the 44th Vice President, rather than admitting, "I was wrong and therefore I fail the Biblical test for a prophet," implied there hadn't been enough prayer, enabling the devil to thwart God's will. Another said, "We did 'give it our all'. . . Tragically, it ended in defeat."

Beloved ones, nobody thwarts God's will and He is never defeated (Job 42:2). Things are never out of His control for a nano-second. I'm sure as the disciples stood at the foot of the cross gazing through wet eyes at the body of Jesus, they said, "This wasn't supposed to happen! We didn't pray enough! The devil won!" To those with ears to hear, God just said, Wait. I'm not through yet!

Out of the "tragic defeat," God provided our salvation!

Our goal in praying about this election may have been to win justice for the unborn and call this nation back to morality. Those are good goals but they are earth-centered thinking. We are not earthly people. We are heavenly people. God's goals are infinitely higher. He has revealed a few of them to us in His word: He is calling out of darkness into light a people for His name and conforming these people to the image of His son. He is making us one--all believers in Jesus Christ, from whatever denomination and church--as the Father and Son are one. He is making distinctions clearer between the righteous and the unrighteous. He is putting into place all the elements which will bring about the "fullness of time" for His return. He is exalting and glorifying His word and His name. God could have used either candidate to accomplish His purposes. He can work through McCain's patriotism or Obama's radicalism. He can use peace and prosperity or persecution.

Like many of you, I prayed that God in His mercy might give us, the body of Christ, a reprieve, another chance to be about our Father's business, by keeping Barack Obama out of the White House. I sense darkness coming over America and I am convinced an Obama administration will greatly speed this process. But God raises up kings and pulls them down. I expect the man God has raised up will be His more painful discipline for us than McCain would have been, but if this is the means by which He can get us back on track and purify us individually and as a people, we say Hallelujah! As American Christians, it is our duty before God to honor and pray for this man and obey all the laws under his administration which do not conflict with the laws of God.

Please listen to John Piper's Heart in the 2008 Election on YouTube, which, though taped before the election, gives a needed perspective for those of us who were stunned, angry, fearful or depressed by its outcome. This puts our focus (back) where it should be. Many of us got caught up in and were really emotionally invested in this campaign. I kept having my own focus distracted and having to bring it back, again and again, to the reality of God's sovereignty and goodness. One thing God was doing as the election approached was waking us up--me, at least--to the freedoms we have taken for granted and how close we may be to losing them. I am already grieving their loss. This may be one of the last elections the United States ever has. God is waking us up to our gross abuse of His blessings, our self-indulgence, our pettiness.

But the battle did not "end in defeat" because this isn't the end. On the other hand, Biblically speaking, it may be the beginning of the end. This means, as my husband points out, that the coming of Jesus may be even nearer than we thought. When he prays before each meal, Jerry now adds, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

We are still to be about our Father's business as we prepare for His son's second coming.

We need to:     Wake Up    Grow Up   Stand Up     Look Up

We need to sweep out the idols in our personal lives and put God first.

We need to get back to basics, back to the Bible.

We need to listen.

We need to obey.

We need to get serious about prayer and spiritual warfare.

We need to see beyond ourselves.

We need to get our priorities right--time, money, possessions, use of resources--in light of this needy world.

We need to be grateful.

That's where I'm starting personally. I am re-committing myself to God's priorities, which are the same whoever is in power here on earth. I have peace about this.

There is more I want to share but I am going to cut it up into separate posts. Bear with me if you will. Some of this may not be for now but tuck it away until a day when it becomes applicable.