As I sit down to type this message, we have no idea who has been chosen to serve our country in the various seats in Congress and as President. I am writing to you earlier in the week, knowing that when this message goes out on Thursday there is a possibility that we still may not know some of the outcomes. No matter when we know, and no matter what the final decisions are, as followers of Jesus we are already poised to continue to lift up prayers for those who are in authority. We pray for our government because we are commanded to by our Lord and it brings blessings upon our nation. We also already know how God expects us to respond. Our response, our character, is to be no different than any other day in a Christian’s life… we are to act in love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 & 13 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; … But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. (NAS)
The enormous rift that has formed in our country can only be healed when we, the Church, decides to be kind; not bragging or arrogant, not holding a grudge nor applauding or acting out in unrighteousness. The King of Kings is still on His throne; He is where our hope comes from, He is our Creator and Sustainer and we must resolve to obey His commands and live as He designed and defined and refuse to let the evil one snare us and tear us apart.
The Word of the Lord endures forever; there are no loopholes or exceptions to be found in God’s Word; no “except when you win,” or “except when you lose and are disappointed.” We have an unchanging God who says the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If America is going to heal, and even more if the Church in America hopes to reach the lost, to share the love and message of Jesus, then we must exercise the beautiful and simple command that is the foundation for all of the others: “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is much to be done to bring us to a place where our pledge, our prayer, becomes a praise, “One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” If we seek liberty and justice for every person from womb to tomb then we must love and live together in God’s Word, will, and ways. Wisdom is crying out to us, as Proverbs 1 warns the fate of the fool who rejects the fear of the Lord – and that of those who abide in Him. Proverbs 1:32-33 promises, "For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. "But he who listens to me shall live securely and will be at ease from the dread of evil."
Will you please join me in prayer?
Lord Jesus, we pray that we have done everything that you called us to do leading up to and through this election, pandemic, economic uncertainty, and a need for justice and racial reconstruction in our nation. We seek Your kingdom and righteousness first and foremost in our lives. We trust in You and exercise faithfulness and fruitfulness so that the world would know You and Your greatness. We continue to ask for Your wisdom as we commit to act in love and submit ourselves to You as instruments of healing for our nation. Help us, heal us, pour out Your Spirit among us we pray, in the precious Name of Jesus. Amen!
For His Love, Life, and Liberty,
Kathy Branzell
President
National Day of Prayer Task Force