Voting thoughts and motivation

Early voting is already in progress, and election day crouches right around the corner. This video challenged me to continue to prayerfully consider my decision. I pray for our country in regards to this upcoming election, but more than that I pray for revival. Whoever wins this election will only play a small role in the course of history. Whoever rules people's individual lives will play a much greater role both in our country and around the world.


After spending quite a bit of time yesterday praying about this, I then read in Micah 3 this morning:

9Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob
And rulers of the house of Israel,
Who abhor justice
And twist everything that is straight,

10Who build Zion with bloodshed
And Jerusalem with violent injustice.

11Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests instruct for a price
And her prophets divine for money
Yet they lean on the LORD saying,
"Is not the LORD in our midst?
Calamity will not come upon us."

12Therefore, on account of you
Zion will be plowed as a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

So many of these phrases felt like our country today. Twisting everything that is straight seems to be a political certainty in Washington and around the country. And how often do we hear people presume that we are safe because God is on our side. "God bless America" has become an overused phrase, especially since 9-11. What right do we have to even say that? Our country is in a sorry state of affairs morally, and we still think we remotely deserve His blessing?!? I pray for change . . . in our hearts.


It seems that at this point the direction taken, especially by McCain this time around, is not "vote for me," but rather "don't vote for him." Although Obama's borderline (or not so borderline) socialist perspective does not agree with my freedom loving self, what are my options? So often elections fall to that proverbial "lesser of two evils." Is there another way?


Now I must contemplate. Do I do something different? I want to vote for someone that I really want as president, and yet also someone that might really have a shot at winning. I don't know that a candidate like that exists. Do I again chalk up my vote as making a statement?


I would like to see third parties rise to real contention in the vote. Based on what I have read, I could heartily support the Constitutional Party. They have even gotten their presidential candidate on the ballot in many states. If you get the right channels you might be able to watch the third party candidates debate tonight, read this article for more information on that.


Without serious, individual change I think we could very well see America turn into a plowed field, a heap of ruins, a high forest. While I think about the election, I also think about what I am doing at a personal level to help my fellow Americans physically and to change the landscape of this country spiritually.


Never rest, never grow weary. O God, strengthen my hands!