Voting with God’s will in mind…

 

We have a civic election coming up in our city so I spent time finding the names of candidates  running for council for our section of the city wanting more information about them as well as the people who are running for mayor and other positions. Lots of names, lots of rhetoric. Voting is difficult for several reasons. I do not know any of the people running for office, hardly anything about their track record, personality or character, nor the reason why they want to be in office.

I do know one thing: God makes it clear that He is sovereign and that He “executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” (Psalm 75:7) Whoever wins in elections or loses is ultimately up to God. He has a plan for our city that no one really knows, except that His will is done. That means, at least in my thinking, that civic leaders should be people who want to do right, to be righteous in their decisions and actions, and wise and responsible. Maybe some of those listed on the ballot will be, yet maybe none will qualify and only push their personal agendas. Knowing who is who is not likely — unless the Lord speaks to me.

I’ve had specifics given by the Holy Spirit in other ways, like when to get out of the grocery store, or seeing a book that seems to say “buy me” and turns out to be a very wise purchase. In a recent prayer gathering, we were told to pray with another person that God puts on our heart. Immediately a name came to mind and I found her and we had a short discussion and prayed. It was a precious prompt from the Lord.

I could pour over the list of candidates, look at their photos, read their promises and use my own impressions on who to vote for, but this time I will ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)

This means faith. I might let doubt into my head if a candidate’s photo reveals a negative expression, or their background appears to have a bias, or some other information unsettles me. But I know the voice of God. Arguments with Him never turn out well. So for this election, I’m taking Him with me to the polling station and asking for clarity about who gets my vote that fits with His will.

PRAY: Lord, I know that “God told me…” is not always considered a reliable way to make choices, yet You have said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) May You open my ears to be a good listener and do what You say without doubt or any concerns. You know who You want to be raised up — and I trust You.

Federal election coming up – how do I vote?

Ezekiel 30:1–31:18, Revelation 14:14–15:8, Job 37:1–8, Daniel 2:21

In Canada, the federal election happens next Monday. Of course the media focuses on claims made and the results of popularity polls. Some voters say they don’t know who to vote for. Others express disgust at name-calling in the campaigns, and many just want change without saying why or to what.

As hubby and I discuss it, we notice two things. One is that people who cry for change almost always have personal motivations behind their wants. The other is that many fail to make the connection between the costs of those changes and the fact that whatever it is will come out of their taxpayer pockets.

Actually, we also discuss a third factor, the one that gives us comfort in election time. It comes from several places in the Bible, notably Daniel 2:21: “God changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”

My mother used to say of many things, “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” In this case she would say that whoever gets elected, it will be what we deserve!

This actually happens throughout the biblical narrative. Today, I’m reading the following from Ezekiel: “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’ For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down . . . . Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within her by the sword . . . . And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have set fire to Egypt, and all her helpers are broken.” (Ezekiel 30:2-4, 6–8)

We will cast our votes. Nevertheless, God can retain the leadership we have, set up new leadership, or even destroy our country. He has done this to other nations in the past and can do it again if He wishes. He knows what is needed here, whether it is wise leadership or humiliating folly.

It is as Job’s young friend Elihu said, “God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.” (Job 37:5–7)

At the final judgment, those who survive the outpouring of wrath on sin will sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Following that will come more displays of the power of God. In his vision, John also saw: “The sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.” (Revelation 15:3–8)

That will not likely happen, yet I will prayerfully cast my vote, recognizing the importance of listening to the Lord. He will turn the hearts of people so that the outcome fulfills His purposes for this one and for all other elections. Our hearts need to be humble when we go to the polling stations.