Carol Purcell

The United States of America had an election yesterday, where one side won by a good sized vote.  Although it seems to be over….maybe it isn’t.

As I watched the acceptance speech I was amazed at the 200,000+ people, (many had been waiting in Chicago for ten hours or more) the happiness, excitement and joy in their actions and on their faces.  And, I was smitten once again with the results of the power of agreement.

King David, of Bible fame, faced the loss of a son because of his own actions prior to his son’s birth.  Here is what the Bible says, (when David was told the baby was dead), “So David arose from the ground and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.”  There is a very interesting and profound principle here.

 The word ‘anoint’ according to the dictionary means:  to consecrate or make sacred in a ceremony that includes the token applying of oil; to dedicate to the service of God.  Usually we see this from the stance of the Holy Spirit doing the anointing.  In this case David rose up and anointed himself.  We could talk all day about his sins that brought this about, but that would not serve us well, nor is it my purpose.

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE….we know the sins we have committed, we know how the enemy is working to kill, rob and destroy in America….well, the whole world.  So let’s get on with the solution.  It is not a program, idea, or a ‘president’.  It is the Kingdom of God on earth with Jesus as King. 

Let’s anoint ourselves–worship our King–both literally with words and song–but especially with our ability to serve.  Let us clothe ourselves in right actions, let’s work in the market place, the business place, the schools, the media, the government (where ever we have a place) with integrity, kindness, blessing those who are against us, and using forgiveness always  to take the power from the enemy and give it to God.

Let’s pray for our Government Leaders–the ones we have now and the ones we will have. Not with judgment about how bad they are, but with forgiveness, blessings and faith in God to change hearts, reaffirm freedom, and move mountains of hostility, violence and arrogance from the minds and hearts of those who know not what they do. 

And, as Charlie Brown–cartoon character– said, “I have seen the enemy and it is us.”

We need to anoint, refresh our minds, our faith in God, not man. We are not American’ts, we are Americans.  We are, as David said when he faced Goliath, the giant, “Who is this that should defy the armies of the living God?”  The war is not against men, but is spiritual.  Regret, remorse, self-pity–the negative emotions do not serve us well.  We must be part of the armies of the living God.  Who ever won a war believing it was lost?

What a challenge, what a great opportunity to be an influence on the world, for the goodness of God, for the abundant life Jesus paid for–not just in a church building–but in the world.  Believers in God, unite in loving agreement and prayer, to change the world for Jesus!  Condemnation and judgment will not work!  Lord let your light shine through us, give us direction, vision and purpose; Lord let Your Kingdom come!