Election Day

The last few months I've seen and heard A LOT surrounding the election and potential candidates. It was hard to escape. I've seen the media saying one thing and then heard friends and family saying another thing. I did my best to do my own research, and not have the media (or even friends) convince me of what I should do. Boy was it hard though!!!! With all the nasty articles (and videos!!!) floating around fb, and heated arguments taking place on people's status's, it made it all very difficult to determine where I stood in all of it. It was also difficult to stay silent and never comment or say anything. I was not entirely successful in that haha.. but I at least always tried my best to stay kind and respectful.

What made me feel the most discouraged is actually the way people treated one another. It’s as though every American decided only their reality and their opinions and their stories matter. When in fact, using our own reality to discredit another’s will never lead to progress or result in peace. Something I ask myself a lot before I post anything is this - "Am I really "spreading awareness", or am I just spreading negativity?" I haven't always done the best job at that either, but I'm growing in that area and that has really helped me.

In regards to Trump and Hillary...
Yes, they have both made terrible mistakes. Yes, they are running for president so therefore we hold them to a higher standard.. but should we? They are sinners just as we are all sinners. In the Bible it says "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I don't think that means don't have opinions and that everyone's sin is ok! I certainly don't think that. However, it says "cast the first stone" which to me means deliberately attacking in a negative non-helpful way. It's bad enough the two candidates were constantly attacking one another. Then, not only have WE been attacking the candidates.. but we are all attacking each other too! Yikes. Freedom of speech? Yes. But being free to say whatever we want or post whatever we want doesn't mean that it's always ok or beneficial to the situation. I've learned from my own mistakes in that area as well.

We're all upset and worked up about all this.. but you know who's pretty happy right now??? The devil. He is literally having a blast watching all of us getting tangled up in this "political war". We have all allowed it to get the best of us at some point and time. I know I have. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8 "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." And he has done just that. The enemy LOVES that right now the two candidates representing our country are people like Trump and Hillary.. and he loves even more that we hate them. He LOVES seeing politics come between families and friendships. He loves it. But Christians hear me out... what if.. WHAT IF instead of just hating them or bashing them or arguing with our friends about them... what if we PRAYED FOR THEM. We have to stand against the enemy and stop giving him what he wants! What if all our negativity, angry remarks, and arguments turned into prayer and humble concern for this nation? Seriously guys what if??? We are better than all this. Maybe the choices we were given this election weren't the greatest, but WE are better than this.

Pretty soon, one of them will be our next president though. You don't have to like them. I don't have to like them. However, he or she is still going to be the president regardless. So then what? More social media slander about him or her? No thank you.
As a Christian I will be praying like CRAZY for whoever that may be. Maybe you don't respect either candidate! Fair enough. They may not deserve our respect, but they at least deserve our prayers. The Bible does say to pray for our enemies! I've heard many people state how "afraid" they are if _____ wins. Most of those people are actually Christians! If you're that afraid of this election, think about how much power you are giving the enemy. And please know, I too have failed miserably in this area the last few months. I am taking my own advice here. We have to stop treating the election like it's voting for the next savior of the world. We have to stop being a part of the fear and negativity that created all this division in the first place.
When we put our hope in ANY human, they will always fail us in some way. So as a Christian, my leader is in Heaven and not in the White House. I'm voting because it's my right and privilege as an American. But not even an OUNCE of my hope is in ANY candidate. My hope is only in Christ. The God I serve is bigger than any fear.. and He is DEFINITELY way bigger than this election.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27

"Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you."
Deuteronomy 5:5

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…"
1 Timothy 2:1-3