Praying for God’s Guidance in Iowa…
As America enters, in Iowa today, the first of many opportunities our nation will face to elect our next US President, I simply wanted to stop for a minute – and ask you to do the same – to pray that God guides our hearts as we elect a leader who will do His Will…a President who is pro-life, pro-religious freedom and who cares about the welfare and future of all Americans and not just about himself or herself. There are several references and stories about “politics” in the Bible. In Samuel I (on which my book The Peace Maker is based) the people of Israel beg Samuel to ask God to give them a King like the other countries. (prior to that they’ve just had priests, prophets and judges). Samuel warns them that they don’t need a king, that God is their King, but they don’t give up so God gives them a king…in Saul, who ends up making poor choices and being a bad leader. Fortunately, he paves the way for King David and then King Solomon – better than Saul but also with their own faults. And then, of course, Jesus is eventually “sent” as the one true King. Still, to keep order we continue to elect leaders. Jesus reminds us in the Gospels to give to God what is God’s and give to “Caesar” (the government) what is Caesar’s. And St. Paul tells us we need to be mindful of authority. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” (Rom 13:1-7) So I believe we shouldn’t simply ignore all of the politics…that we have a choice, a vote, and every vote counts…and we need to keep informed and keep praying about it. St. Paul tells us so: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (Tim 2:1-2) So let’s all pray for Iowans today to follow not only their hearts but God’s Will as they begin the process.
