So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. - Ac 9:31
Lord, I've been meditating on how I feel about our recent wonderful victory, and I've come up with "peace" as the answer. I have a deep feeling of contentment and rightness about the choices America made this week.
The Hebrew word 'Shalom' carries the connotation, "everything as it ought to be", and that is how it seems now. America has averted a near-disaster and will instead reinstall a godly man with godly vision as its chief executive. How blessed Your church is that this is so. We will have freedom to live quiet lives in all dignity and to propagate Your glorious kingdom.
I also know that great tests are coming. Mr. Bush, now with the mandate he lacked in year 2000, has every intention of moving forward with a much-needed radical domestic agenda. He also is deadly serious about protecting us from further terrorism, and dealing with Iran and North Korea looms ominously in the not-distant future. For that we are going to have to buck not only world opinion, but benighted domestic political forces as well. It is not going to be easy.
But for now it has been wonderful to dwell in a season of peace and rest, ministering to You and being ministered to by You, and enjoying the fellowship of the Body of Christ.
Not all are at rest, however. Even now our forces gather for the needed assault on Falujah. Time is up for the terrorists, their attempt to sway our elections having failed. Mr. Bush now is going to lower the hammer. We ask for their protection and complete success.
Thank you, Lord, for all Your goodness toward us. We love You. Please comfort all who are hurting.
Yes, Lord. We confess that You are a shield for our troops. Protect them by night and day, Father, giving them supernatural strength and courage. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanks, Paul_B. I agree that the feeling of peace is exceptionally sweet after the bitter battle we've had.
Frangipane made a comment today on the election:
Recent Elections
As we approached elections in the USA, it struck me as inconceivable that the destiny of President Bush would not also have been foreordained by the Almighty. I noticed that he is often identified by his middled initial, "W." Yet, even as I listened to the President's supporters chant, "four more years," it occurred to me that the President's middle initial, "W," when spoken phonetically, actually says Double You, as in "I will double your time in office four more years."
Of course, the Lord didn't need a prophetic play on words to escort this President into office. Yet, with the re-election of President Bush, I've realized something else: he was given four more years on the strength of evangelical Christians. In fact, "moral values" was the leading reason people voted for President Bush! In the midst of a shaky economy and a difficult war in Iraq, the desire for righteousness determined the outcome of this nation!
Many politicians on both sides of the aisle have ignored the traditional values of faith and family. Sen. Dodd, D-Conn., admitted, "We have lost the ability to connect with people's value systems and we're going to have to work to get that back." Rep. Pomeroy, D-N.D., said "I think that the Democratic party nationally is perceived as being out of step with mainstream values. I want our party to do a better job of speaking to matters of faith and family."
I think it is vital that evangelical Christians divorce ourselves from gloating or any expression of self-righteousness. It is imperative that, while others are searching for answers, we truly represent Christ's heart. Let us speak with humility of our values and then, with wisdom, lead others to Jesus, our source of all virtue.
Beloved, both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the news and entertainment media, are all realizing that something powerful is awakening in America. They had a first glimpse when The Passion of the Christ came out; they were staggered by the effect of praying, voting Christians during this last election. Now, it is time to pray this advance forward.
As I've often said since January, 2004, we are in a year of release. The constrictions we been experiencing are not death throes, but birth pangs; they are not part of what restricts us, but releases us. Indeed, there is a destiny unfolding, not just for George W. Bush, but for the body of Christ in America. I believe that the Lord is in the process of answering our prayers and increasing our effectiveness. Concerning His anointing on our lives, He says, "I will double you."