HOW To Care About Politics: Concise Thoughts

Do you and I have the courage 

to admit that the biggest enemy 

of the gospel

and of God's Kingdom 

has NEVER been the ones 

with political power; 

but rather, 

the greatest enemy of the gospel 

and of God's kingdom

has ALWAYS been 

Christians who are 

un-Christlike?

The gospel flourished and spread 

under the reign of Nero, 

the Christian-butchering madman. 

The Kingdom of God

 flourished in underground churches 

all over the communist nations of the world, 

in the face of intense persecution and martyrdom.

The gospel can flourish and spread 

under whoever our new president may be.

 ###

IF we understand that the 

Kingdom of God can flourish 

no matter who is president, 

BUT we're still so upset about politics 

that we're willing to dump Christlikeness 

in favor of sinful attitudes and actions, 

in pursuit of political power, 

THEN we have no choice 

but to conclude that 

we aren't prioritizing the Kingdom of God at all,

but rather our own kingdoms, 

and we're rebelling against the One who told us to 

"Seek first the Kingdom of God, 

and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you."

###

Lord, 

please forgive us 

for reviling others in Your name, 

instead of showing others that 

Your love and Your strength are enough 

to give us peace, and joy, and endless hope

no matter what!

Please forgive us 

for bringing such dishonor to You 

by being fearful, depressed by circumstances, 

hateful, spiteful, vengeful, and power-hungry. 

Who would want the god of people like that, 

when they can behave the same way 

(and sometimes better) 

with no god at all! 

Please help us 

to ask ourselves hard questions 

about why we act and feel as we do, 

and what it says about 

the powerless "little-g" god 

we so often believe in, 

when we should be exulting in 

the God of Calvary, 

and of the empty tomb, 

and of the coming Kingdom 

that shall never pass away! 

How different 

would this world be 

if we really lived 

(and talked, and Facebook-posted) 

from faith in our big-G God 

who reigns over all 

the circumstances of our lives?

Please make it so, Lord Jesus.

Please revive Your people.

What Can You Give to God Every Day?

Photo by Robert Hurst 

Not long ago I felt inspired by this post from my favorite blogger, Tim Challies.  It is about consciously dedicating things like your time, energy, and enthusiasm to God every morning.  I decided to start praying through them in the mornings, and soon I found myself adding more.  I thought I should share these with you, because I find them very helpful in my own walk.  (Not that I'm an expert in living this way...far from it!  But this is the direction I believe He wants me to grow.)
Please let me know in the comments if you think of anything else that would be helpful to add to these morning prayers!

My morning dedications:

• I dedicate to You the gifts and talents that You have given me, to be used for Your glory.
• I dedicate to You the time that You have given me, for I am only time's steward in Your service.
• I dedicate to you the energy You have given me, for pursuing Your will.  I will trust You to supply moment-by-moment energy when I have no supply of my own.
• I dedicate to You my enthusiasm, for Your joy and Your promises to shine through.
• I give to you my cares and anxieties over the circumstances You have given me, for the praise of Your peace and Your sovereignty.
• I dedicate to You my reputation and honor, for You to raise or lower in the eyes of man as You see fit, because You laid aside Your glory for me, and You have promised to clothe me with Your glory forever.
• I dedicate to You my weakness, to be used for the glory of Your strength, rather than using it myself as an excuse to bury what You have entrusted to me (Matt 25:14-30).
• I dedicate to You my thoughts and imaginings, because Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and You have prepared blessings for me that are beyond imagining.
• I place on your altar my self-sufficiency and self-confidence, to replace with Your sufficiency, and with confidence in You.
• I dedicate to You my best-laid plans, for You to establish or overrule as You see fit, because Your plans are perfect.
• I leave in Your hands every "sacrifice" I've given, not trying to control what You do with them.  If you are pleased to make them into obvious blessings, or to burn them to ashes on Your altar, I will rest in Your acceptance of them.  I will trust You that nothing is lost.
• I dedicate my all to You, Lord.  You gave all to me, and You have told me that all things are mine in You (1 Co. 3:21-23).