Isaiah 8:11-12 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
“Do not call conspiracy
    everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
    and do not dread it.

The Bible records this sort of message in various ways throughout its length, probably most famously in Paul’s words: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) We all have the tendency to “take the easy way out,” to “go with the flow” of what everyone around us is doing, but that can be dangerous indeed. Jesus cautioned us very strongly, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13) There is a great deal of pressure to conform, sometimes simply by social pressure but sometimes with the force of government. We aren’t to be different just for the sake of being different, but we certainly aren’t to conform just for the sake of conforming. Sometimes that balance can be hard to find! What God said to Isaiah is very important here: don’t fear what society in general fears. Over the past few years it has been all too common that yesterday’s “conspiracy theory” is tomorrow’s established fact. The point is not to fear any of it, but fear only the Lord our God, as it says in verse 13. We must remember that ultimate power and authority reside only in God, so no matter how much fuss anything else might be kicking up, our focus, our fear and our hope, are to be on Him alone. This is particularly important to remember with all the political ruckus that’s being kicked up. In Sunday’s election in Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party failed to get an outright majority for only the second time since WWII, so it remains to be seen what the government is going to look like. In a sense, this was long overdue, because too many LDP politicians were taking power for granted, and corruption was rife. I’m not familiar with the policy platforms of any of the parties, but the thing to do at this point is to cover it all in prayer, so that God’s plans may be fulfilled. With the American election, all sorts of tales of doom and gloom are being spread if “the other side wins.” We are certainly to pray for God’s choices to enter office, but we’ve got to remember that God is ultimately, and positively, in control. The forecasts of how many “evangelical Christians” will not even vote is disturbing to say the least. Even if you have trouble voting for a particular candidate, the ones who need to be voted against are clear indeed, and as has been said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” God does use His children, and we need to resist every temptation to be inactive.

Father, thank You for this clear, strong reminder. I do pray for Your children in the US to get up out of their apathy and “spirituality” and act as Your agents, not just in this election but in every area of life. As Charlie Kirk and others have pointed out so strongly, I pray for the pastors who have failed to mobilize their flocks, that they would repent of their spiritual pride and understand their place in Your kingdom, so that Your will may be done indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!