A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog—about choices—in particular about the 2024 election. And at the end of that blog I encouraged everyone to pray—for their own decision, for the decisions the rest of the voting citizenry was going to have to make, and for the candidates.

To my credit, I did pray—for my decision (as I was running back and forth through the gamut of options), for others, and for the candidates. 

Within a week, my mother shared a YouTube video that a friend of hers had shared with her.

I listened to it. More than once. I didn’t want to be the fool in Proverbs 12:15 who refuses to listen to others’ advice but blindly clings to her own way. I truly want to make a decision I can live with with a clear conscience.

I have attached that video. I would encourage every Christian to listen, whether you are vacillating or firm in your decision. As the pastor, himself, says, it will anger some and some will walk out or, in this case, turn off the video, but there is no judgment. Each person must make up his or her own decision. 

It may not change your mind as to how to vote this coming election, but by listening, you will have erred on the side of wisdom.

​And keep praying.
​

I sleep with ear plugs—everywhere.

At home I like to sleep with the windows open and in the summer the frogs and the crickets can be a bit loud. Away from home it stops any ambient noise I am not used to from keeping me awake. 

In other words, it gets rid of distracting noises that can prevent me from having a good night’s sleep.

As Christians, we need to wear spiritual earplugs. There is a lot of noise in the world that can not only distract us from focusing on God but can also fill our minds with lies and undermine our peace.

Remember, Satan (who has been allowed to run amok in this world) is the father of lies (John 8:44) telling us that the world’s ways (serving and satisfying ourselves) will bring us happiness, that our peace is reliant on the result of a particular election, or that we are not worthy of God’s grace.

In addition, sometimes our own hectic schedules, problems, and expectations can turn our attention off of God’s goodness and on to our own inabilities.

We need to plug those ears and take the advice of Scripture. First . . .

We need to stop.

“Be still and know that I am God . . .” (Psalm 49:10)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7)

Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord (Zechariah 2:13).

And then . . .

We need to focus on what is most important.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3).

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

It isn’t easy tuning out the world and tuning into God, but as Jesus promised 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). 

​Rest easy. Sleep well.

It’s happening, isn't it? The negative rhetoric keeps escalating and the facts and positions are all but disappearing.

Yup. We are on the downhill slide toward November 5—Election Day.

But it’s important, isn’t it? We have a leader to choose—an important one—so we have to make a choice. 

Do I vote for one of the two most likely to win because I firmly believe in him or her, or do I vote for one, even though I don’t like that person, just to make sure the other candidate doesn’t win? 

Or do I remove myself from that fray and choose one of the lesser known wannabes to show I support neither of the major parties’ choices even though my choice has no chance of winning. 

Or do I write in my own candidate for president hoping there are enough likeminded others that by some miracle this candidate would win?

All those are viable choices in the upcoming election. However, we have one more choice we need to make, a choice which came to me after I saw the following window decal:

“No matter who is president, Jesus is the king.”

True. 

So we can choose to be part of the political pandemonium, asserting our positions with anyone within earshot or “educating” our unenlightened neighbors and friends with the “truth.”

Or we can choose to pray—for the decision we need to make, for the candidates who are running, and for the rest of the American voting populace who have that same difficult decision to make. 

Then we can trust that God indeed is in control of the outcome ( . . . for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1).

This choice is important because it is a choice between chaos and peace. Perhaps not in the future of our country but most definitely in the realm of our hearts.

The picture below—taken recently—reinforced the power of God, His love for us by the beauty He has provided for us, and the peace that can come from recognizing this.

I have also attached the video of CeCe Winan’s song “That’s My King.” She recorded her new album in from of a live audience, and you can see the exuberance of her audience. If we (and they) truly believe the words being sung, then we really should be able to trust God for our future—all of it—even the political one--with the same unrestrained joy.

My back has problems. My neck has problems. Both can move out of alignment pretty easily, so I see a chiropractor on a regular basis. 

He has assessed my problem and has even given me a cause for it. Years of playing tennis had developed one side of my body, making it stronger than the other. But the non-dominant side was strong as well so my back was able to maintain alignment. 

However, once I stopped playing, the stronger side began pulling on the spine until . . . I had a problem.

Nothing that couldn’t be remedied, however, with adjustments but, more importantly, through strengthening and stretching exercises, which would eventually make the adjustments less needed.

As you can probably guess by my opening statement—I haven’t been very diligent on doing my exercises since I am still having problems. Hence, the frequent trips to the chiropractor.

How do I know I need an adjustment? Usually pain.

Our spiritual lives can also get out of whack as well if we fail to take care of our spiritual health. 

We have already been assessed—dead in our sins—and given the initial adjustment to make us healthy—salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

But if we leave it there, if we don’t build up our spiritual life, we can often end up out of alignment again. Unhealthy pulls back into sin. Weak prayer life. Negligence in our time in the Bible.

How do we know we need an adjustment? Again, usually pain.

The Bible has multiple verses about how to stay in alignment. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (I John 4:1).

To accomplish these, to stay in alignment, we must communicate with God through praying and reading of his word, and then by relying on Him in every situation. 

The more we repeat this cycle, the stronger we will be and the less we will need adjustments.

My mother watches Dr. David Jeremiah on television every weekday morning. He is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, an author of over forty books, and the founder and host of Turning Point for God.

I recently heard one of his 20 minute televised sermons from his series Belief that Behaves. It was entitled “Salvation Pure and Simple.” He states that Ephesians 2:1-9 is the most precise explanation of salvation, and he then takes time to explain the thoughts Paul sets forth.

The first three verses share the hopelessness of our current condition apart from God. 

Then in verse 4 come the words BUT GOD . . .

And everything changes. The next six verses—twice as many as before the words—talk about what God has done to save us from this abject condition and what has He given us instead of a life without hope.

If you have time, I encourage you to listen to it. All your questions regarding the need of salvation and the way of salvation will be explained. The sermon begins at 2:56 after some introductory remarks (that are interesting but not absolutely necessary).

I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me.

www.davidjeremiah.org/television/weekend?date=2024-08-11