Interestingly, it is a United States Senator, Rand Paul, from Kentucky, who publicly acknowledged, “I think our problems, though, are worse and deeper and more profound than just political leaders can correct. I think we really are in a spiritual crisis as a country. And we need a reawakening. We need a revival.” Jim Daley, president of Focus on the Family, asserts, “I believe the coming days, weeks and months could very well be one of the modern-day Church’s finest hours. This is no time to name call; there is no place for pettiness as we begin to count the consequences of the 2012 campaign. Instead, this is a time to rise and reprioritize. It is time to reach out to every person in every corner of this country and in doing so, strive to reflect Christ’s heart to a very hurting world by our words and actions.” The Apostle Paul’s letter of encouragement to Roman believers is applicable to America in 2012, I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NLT).
3 Core Post-Election Issues for the Church
Lord, search our hearts, replay to us the tapes of our words and their tone. Forgive us if we have sounded like the verbal combatants that assault listeners with harsh and judgmental language. Forgive us when we have been quick to speak and become angry while being slow to listen. Forgive us when we have allowed our emotions and hopes to become wrongly fixed on anyone or anything other than you. Help us to not go from dependence on political contrivances to abandoning our voice to the nation as your ambassadors. We are reminded of how Jesus answered the question about the greatest commandment, that we are to love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that loving our neighbor is next in importance. Our hearts echo the words of the song, “God bless America,” while we ask for mercy for our beloved nation, Lord. Our citizenship is in Heaven, but we thank you for helping us to be the people you have called us to be, savory salt on your behalf while we live in this place. We rejoice and take comfort in the fact that our ultimate dwelling place is with you.
