God's Way - God's Love at Work - Week of June 14

God’s Way
by Margaret D. Mitchell

"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."  -Isaiah 55:9 NLT

This year is an election year in the USA. For those of us who try to follow Christ, one question is paramount in this election: “God, Who is Your choice for President?”

As followers of Christ, God’s choice should be our choice. His ways are higher than ours. So, have we paused to ask Him which candidate He has chosen to lead us at this time in history, the one who—with God’s anointing and appointing—will attempt to carry out His plan, not theirs, the one who truly holds the country’s best interest at heart? Or will we base our votes on limited information, trusting ourselves or others above God?

I’ve learned to consult God. And His choice wasn’t confirmed to me until I intentionally asked Him. Many candidates are good, and some are eloquent orators; but only one is chosen by God for such a time as this to serve in the specific office of the president.

I’ve learned that things (including people) aren’t always as they appear.

I’ve learned that God chooses willing people, not always the most qualified, and especially those who are willing to go outside the church walls into the world and work unto Him.

I’ve learned God chooses yielded, teachable people who have a sincere desire to get it right and who look to Him for wisdom.

I’ve learned that God sees way more than I—beneath the surface into the wholeness of each heart running the race and that He already knows His specific plans for our nation. I believe God considers the candidates’ sacrifices and the motives of their seeds sown—even in secret—as well as their faithfulness to His leading.

If we believe God is the One who promotes us into positions of work and authority, the One who takes us from glory to glory, and we also believe that He only uses imperfect people, then we realize there is one whom He has called, chosen, and has been specifically, intentionally developing their character for the position well before now.

So early on, before the first televised debate, before any candidate “took” the lead or lagged behind, I consulted God. And the candidate He revealed to me was not surprising to me; but the way in which He revealed the candidate was a bit alarming: Immediately—as though God had been waiting for me to ask—He showed me a vision in my mind of a type of megaphone, perhaps even a shofar. Through it came the name of His chosen candidate spelled out in a single word…repeatedly and then consistently every time it came to mind. I knew in my spirit that this revelation was very important and urgent and that God desired to get the Word out to anyone who was willing to listen, anyone who would consult His desire above their own.

It’s easy for us to feel drawn to a particular candidate based on our emotions, preferences, perceptions, or traditions. It’s easy for us to even feel undecided based on media coverage and volatile polls. But God is not confused. He is not fearful. He does not change like shifting shadows. Rather, God looks to see if there are any who are truly wise and seek Him (Ja 1:17, Ps 14:2).

Submission to God’s will is not only a better way than trusting any other source, it’s a just and steadfast way, and it will produce good fruit. God’s perspective takes media bias, humankind’s opinions, and stress out of our decision-making.

Dependence upon God is the most powerful place to be. It brings peace, affirmation, and confirmation. Proverbs 3:5 NLT prompts us: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." So our choice really comes down to whether we truly trust God’s choice of who is best for us as a country.

Many of us realize by now that we’re in a new season spiritually. To receive the fullness of God’s promise, we must trust and obey Him—the faithful One—who knows everything. It’s really very simple, but it may not always be easy. It may require a renewal of the mind.

When we truly make God the center of our lives, we will anticipate God’s grace shinning the brightest on the best interest of our country. Our hearts are awakened to see every prism of His light that endures with us. Doing God’s will is the great co-laboring adventure that does not fail.

Indeed, God has a plan to save our country. John 3:16-17 NASB assures us: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

Will we turn from our misfortunes and see God’s power and justice restored in our country? Will we choose God’s way—the Fruit of The Spirit—over the anti-Christ’s political correctness and see God’s prevailing truth and blessing manifest?

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT assures us: "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

God’s Word will not return void because Heis the Word. God is not a man that would lie, change His mind, speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill (Jn 1:1, Nu 23:19). God has already chosen His leader for us. Will we seek Him and choose to come into agreement with Him and sync with Him throughout this election process—all the way to the finish, unyielding to other voices around us that may differ from God’s will?

We do have an important role as followers of Christ, because God has chosen us to participate in His will. So will we reign victorious? Will we honor God above all else, including ourselves? When the answer is “Yes, I will Lord!” He will lift us and honor us as a nation before nations.

Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ. This devotional was adapted from Margaret's forthcoming book, Enduring Grace. All rights reserved.