Are we Still the “United” States?
I joined the plethora of facebook posts yesterday regarding the election. Only, my reflection wasn’t about voting, rather the question, what happens Wednesday morning? It was obvious the presidential election would be decided by a razer thin majority in actual votes counted. Before I went to bed last night, I watched the screen continue to reveal that a mere 750,000 voters had re-elected President Obama.
750,000 votes. On the overall vote count, what is the actual percentage of people who voted for Obama over Romney? It’s less than one percent.
Less than one percent. This is the majority that Obama has to lead with; along with a reality of a Republican House of Representatives and a Democratic Senate.
My question on my facebook post yesterday was this, “With almost half of America delighted at last night’s win, and almost half of America disappointed, will we remain the “United” States?
I had an interesting time with the Lord yesterday morning. I’ve been working my way through the desert passages in the Bible, and am currently immersing myself in Deuteronomy 5 through 8. Yesterday I studied Deut. 7, which is entitled the “The Privilege of Holiness.”
The entire chapter is a contrast of how God will move with those who embrace him as the One True God, and follow his very specific ways for desert living, and the consequences for those who don’t.
I wasn’t even thinking about the election; having already prayed for it earlier. But, as I neared the end of the chapter, I had this overwhelming sense the Lord had an important message for his faithful followers.
Our identity: we are named “God’s own Special Treasure.” How cool is that? We are told the nations bigger and stronger than us will be defeated because we are God’s own special treasure. It continues, “The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you are more numerous than other nations, but simply because the Lord loves you.
We are his own Special Treasure just because He loves us.
Secondly, the Lord calls us to “Remember.”
We are to remember all the ways the Lord has been faithful to us in the past.
Where did he show up to provide a way of escape when there wasn’t an earthly one available?
Where did you see the Lord act as an advocate for you in a place of injustice?
Where did the Lord bring provision when you desperately needed it?
Where did you see the Lord bring supernatural deliverance to you or your circumstances?
Remembering sparks our faith. I remember how the Lord met us in buying and selling our houses just one year ago. We literally signed a contract to sell our home in our kitchen one minute and then walked into our living room to sign our loan papers for our new home. This was a miracle because no one had even looked at our house for almost two weeks!
The last section of Deut. 7 speaks to the “Giants in our lives.” We are told not to be afraid because the Lord is among us and he is a great and awesome God (vs. 21). The Lord will drive out the giants a little at a time so we can continue to dwell in the land he’s provided for us.
Listen to what it says next, “The Lord will put kings (and presidents) in your power, and will erase their names from the face of the earth. No one will stand against you” (vs.24).
At that moment, it was almost as if the Lord got in front of my face, and said, “Listen, Tamara, help my people to realize it doesn’t matter who is at the helm of their country, but to recognize who I have created them to become.
They are the Kings who Reign.
They have the call, the power, and the position to live “Kingdom Come on Earth.”
I sensed his impatience and the depth of his desire for us to “get it.”
He wants us to crawl up on the throne with Jesus and learn what it means to be a “Royal Heir” in God’s Kingdom.
I had a funny picture in prayer a couple of weeks ago, and it keeps surfacing over and over in my thoughts. I saw myself sitting on the throne with Jesus, but I looked like I was about 7 years old. The throne was HUGE, and my feet only went down about 1/3 of the way to the floor. Jesus looked over at me and said, “Your crown is crooked, let me fix it for you.”
What does this say to you? I think it says that I am very young in my ability to reign, and I don’t have everything quite right….but Jesus is going to teach me and fix those areas where I may not be completely aligned.
Here’s my word to those of you who are delighted with the election results: Pray for our President and Government. Seek to have unity with those who disagree with you. Pray for our ability to live as “United” in our spiritual lives; and our political lives.
Here’s my word to those of you who are distressed with the election results: Pray for our President and Government. Seek unity with those who disagree with you. Pray for our ability to live as “United” in our spiritual lives; and our political lives.
Here’s my word to all of us who love Jesus: Climb up on his throne. You are invited. He is waiting to hang out with you, and is just waiting for the opportunity to fix your crooked crown, as he teaches you how to live into your call to be a Kingdom Catalyst in the world.
Pray with me:
Our Father who Art in Heaven, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Amen!
And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign on the earth.” Rev 5:9-10