Yesterday I wrote about the important election in the USA and the likelyhood that roughly half of voters would be unhappy today because their candidate did not prevail. Well today it is probably more that half who are likely unhappy, because we don’t have a result, and the country will be arguing about the election for some time.

There were probably millions of people praying that their candidate would prevail on Election Day, and millions are praying today, along with me, for the integrity of the country we cherish.

I cannot imagine anyone would choose this course for the election and the country, but this is how God let it play out.

Isaiah writes in chapter 55:8,9, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

God is good, all the time. He is working in ways we cannot understand in this situation. Our job is to pray, praise and have faith in God’s love and power.

Dear Lord, we put our faith and trust in you amidst the confusion and evil in our world. Help us remember that your ways are higher than our ways, and remember that if we do what we can, you will do what we cannot. Bless us and bless America. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is the same devotion I sent four years ago. I scheduled it to be sent before the results of the election were known. What I do know is that when the results are tallied, about half of the voters will not be happy with the result.

However, Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-2, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities, For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”

As I was thinking about the implications of this, I thought about the conditions of the people during Paul’s time. They were governed by the dictator in Rome. The Romans considered the Emperor to be their God. Christians were persecuted, tortured and killed. However, eventually in 380 AD, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire.

God is in control.

No matter who is elected in the USA, our responsibility is clearly provided in the Bible, and our hope is in the Lord.

Dear Lord, what peace it provides us to know that you have control over all things. As Christians, help us continue to follow your will, love our neighbors, and pray for our leaders, even if they are not our choice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is Election Day in the U.S.A., and though many are anxious about the outcome, we know that our hope is not in that candidate, party or proposal, it is in our Lord Jesus.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And also in Romans 8:28 he writes, “and we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Regardless of the results of this election, we know God has power over all and therefore we do not need to be anxious.

Dear Lord, on this Election Day we thank you for the amazing country and freedom with which we have been blessed. We pray for your hand of guidance and strength on the USA. Give us leaders that help advance your kingdom in this world, and protect us all from the destructive power of the evil one. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you have listened to many motivational speakers you have probably heard the illustration of the commander of a conquesting army, who tells his troops to “burn the boats” when they arrive at the shores of the new land; As a result, they are committed and there is no turning back. They must succeed or die trying.

In a similar way, we need to look at our faith in God as a “burn the boats” faith. We put our faith and trust in God, and burn our doubts and half hearted belief on the shore. Like the song says “I am trusting thee Lord Jesus, trusting only thee.”

Jesus says in Mark 11:22-24, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Dear Lord, How often the limits of our belief are what prevent You from answering our prayers. Help us truly put our trust in Your power, without doubt. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

You may remember the scenes in the movie Karate Kid, where Mr. Miyagi, the older Japanese man who promised to teach Karate to Daniel, the boy and main character of the movie, in order to defend himself from other boys who were bullying him. Mr. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel, but makes Daniel agree he will do whatever Mr. Miyagi asks, without question. Daniel agrees, and the first thing Daniel is told to do is wash and wax Mr. Miyagi’s cars, with a specific motion, he is told “wax on, wax off.” After that, Daniel is told to sand Mr. Miyagi’s deck, again precisely as Mr. Miyagi describes. Finally, Daniel is told to paint Mr. Miyagi’s fence and house, also in precisely the way described. After several days of these chores, Daniel is frustrated and confused by what he has been doing, which appears to have nothing to do with Karate. He complains to Mr. Miyagi, who in a dramatic scene of attacking blows, ties all the chores into defensive Karate movements, and the reasons for all the hard work and frustration becomes clear to Daniel.

In John 13, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. When Peter resists, thinking this was disrespectful and wrong, Jesus tells him in John 13:7, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Many things in our lives are like this, we are following what we think is the right path, doing the right things, and difficult circumstances occur that we cannot understand. At those times, we should remember these words of Jesus, “…later you will understand.” We should stay on course, doing the right thing, with our faith firmly in Jesus’ protection and guidance.

Dear Lord, so often we cannot understand what you are teaching us through our experiences. We can know, however, that you are in control, and we will understand some day. Help us remember this and stay in faith doing your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.