Does anyone else notice a bit of heaviness in our country? Don’t worry – I’m not going to write a politically slanted piece – but it does point to some political positions. But you’d have to be living under a rock to not know that there’s a lot riding on this election. Every life, from the unborn child in the womb to those on hospice who should be able to pass with dignity and everyone in between, will be affected by the outcome of this election. It’s almost overwhelming.
As my husband and I tend to do, we’ve been talking about these current events and affairs from a spiritual perspective. I’ll admit, I’m a walking contradiction in some ways. On one hand I can be a bit naïve, but I also suspect nefarious workings if it even hints that there might possibly be deception. I think that everyone has a conscience that they hear and listen to, and I’m simply flabbergasted that people can be so blatantly evil and not recognize their evil for what it is. Anyone else? But then I go back to smelling more rats that roses.
Like I said, I can be a walking contradiction. I would love to believe the best in people, but perhaps I’ve been burned enough that I’m more comfortable with a few protective walls in place. And here I am, also fully believing that when God gets hold of someone, they can truly change their stripes. That’s because I believe my God is who He says He is.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the circus of the political arena. It’s so easy to find that you’ve gone down one rabbit hole too many. It’s so very easy to find yourself caught up in the world and you’re looking for world kind of solutions. Some might say there’s treason and go off on a rabbit trail of how treason was once dealt with. We might see blatant injustices and want to lock those who are guilty up and throw away the key. Those are worldly solutions for things in this world.
But are we fighting worldly problems? Are they flesh and blood at the root of it all?
Like many out there, my husband and I went and voted early. We stood in line with kiddos in tow for almost two hours to cast our votes that would reflect our values. As I read the names on the ballot, I was struck by something I should have been recognizing the whole time. Each one of the names on the ballot belonged to a person that God loves, and Jesus died to save. Each and every person. Each man, each woman, each republican, each democrat, and all the others who are affiliated or not. God loves each and every one of them even if they don’t give a millisecond of their life to God.
I didn’t vote based on a political party, a gender, a race, or a personality. I voted on how closely my values would be represented. My values as a daughter of the King of Kings. You should vote your values as well – but those values should be backed by truth found in God’s Word. It’s not about a political party. It’s not about how politically correct or incorrect someone speaks. It’s not about gender or race.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NASB
The forces we are fighting are spiritual. Scripture tells us we are fighting against the world forces of this darkness. That word forces (Strong’s G2888 – kosmokrator) literally means Satan and his demons. We’re not fighting people; we’re fighting the demonic forces that the people are listening to – all of the lies that are being whispered and believed. All of the truths being twisted in an effort to appease our guilt regarding our thoughts and actions are from demonic forces so they can hold the door open to wreak havoc on our lives.
It might start with a social drink after a rough day at work – no big deal. Before you know it, that beverage is what you’re running to instead of your Father. Maybe things go too far with your boyfriend – or worse, maybe you’re a victim of rape – and to hide your shame you get rid of an insignificant clump of cells because that’s what the world tells you it is. We should put all our trust in the government – they would never force us to isolate, restrict us from gathering to worship, and they are our hope for a prosperous future.
Those are just a few of the lies we begin to believe when we give ear to the wrong voice. We see depravity and hear the promises from people to solve it – it can be a slow fade, but you might find yourself putting your hope in a person or group instead of God. We have to start seeing that each and every person or group has a spiritual force at work. Which spiritual force are we going to fight against and which are we going to rally with?
It can seem a bit overwhelming. How do we fight spiritual forces? Physical forces are a bit more obvious. Just look at how Jael fought against an evil that was against the people of the Most High God – she drove a tent peg through the enemy’s temple while he slept, literally nailing him to the ground (Judges 4)! And then she was praised for it (Judges 5:24-27). By the way, I’m so thankful that we are not called to that kind of warfare.
God never tells us to do something without giving us the instructions to not just know how to do it, but to be victorious in it.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11 NASB
It doesn’t say to be strong in yourself. It doesn’t say to be strong in your church, your religion, your school, your political party, or even your moral resolve. Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Whose might? His might. I know that I’m not mighty, but I absolutely know that He is. The word might, in the Greek (Strong’s G2479 – ischus) is synonymous with another Greek word, dunamis (Strong’s G1411), which is translated to mean miraculous power.
This is what gets me excited about the future, no matter the outcome of the election. No matter who is voted in, my God is bigger, mightier, and brings with Him miraculous power! No matter the state of the economy, those who have their hope in the Lord will prosper (Psalm 37:1-11, Psalm 91, Isaiah 40:31).
Let’s be ready for the spiritual battle that’s coming. Let’s regroup for the battle that we’re already in. To do this we have to not just get in the Word, but we have to believe God’s Word to be true. All of it. If we’re going to stand against Satan and his demonic forces, we need to know who God is and His heart for us. If you think it’s God’s will for His children to be sick, what kind of father does that make Him? But that’s the kind of lie the enemy uses to weaken God’s people.
For more on what the full armor of God is, take some time to check out my Armor of God series. There’s so much to unpack, but as a spoiler, your tent peg is now a sword, and you wield it by knowing the Word of God. It’s time to shrug off the heaviness, climb out from under your rock, and get suited up. We’ve already won because our victory is in Him.
Well said!
A good word!