Isaiah 45:8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;
    let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
    let salvation spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
    I, the Lord, have created it.”

This chapter is famous for naming Cyrus the Persian, a man who knew nothing of Yahweh, and saying that God was going to use him to rebuild Israel, which is indeed what happened. In recent years quite a few people have connected this to Donald Trump, though others have reacted strongly against that idea. In any case, this verse expresses the purpose of it all, that salvation and righteousness might bear abundant fruit. That is certainly desirable, and righteousness is in pretty short supply in the US at this point. God does indeed use individuals, and often pretty unlikely individuals, to accomplish His purposes, and it can be pretty shocking – even when we are those individuals! In a couple of days the US will be having a highly momentous election. God’s children need to stand up and act as God’s instruments, that the active forces of evil may be blocked so that this verse may be fulfilled. To say that the characters in the drama are unlikely is quite an understatement, but if God can use those people, flawed as they are, then He can use us, too. And that starts with casting our vote under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are to pray for justice and righteousness to be poured out. The whole concept of justice seems to have gone by the wayside in recent years. Calling it a “two-tiered justice system” is a major understatement! We need to pray and act in obedience to God’s Spirit, so that evil and falsehood may be exposed and God’s salvation and righteousness bear abundant fruit. Many things will happen simultaneously, and we are not to get confused or despair, but rather know that our Creator is God, and He is perfectly holy, loving, and just.

I don’t think I have ever been as emotionally involved in an election as I am right now, but I see the forces at work. I am not to think it “depends on me,” but at the same time I am not to run from being one of God’s instruments in bringing about His will. I have voted, and I am to pray. Located in Japan, that marks the limits of what I can do, but God desires that of me and He will use it. My ballot was in the mail weeks ago, but prayer is ongoing. I am not to pray with desperation, but I am to pray with urgency. This morning I am to be preaching on God’s governing authority, and I am to rest in the assurance that it is His, and His alone. I am also to be sure that I am submissive and obedient to that authority! I see so many people around me, even people I love and respect, react almost violently against the very idea of submission. I am not to be one of them, but at the same time be careful that I submit only to my Lord, and not to the lying forces that assault me. Jesus is Lord, and I am to be an instrument of His Lordship.

Father, You know how wrapped up I am in all that is going on. Thank You for Your plans for right here, today. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You so that I may be fully available and useful to You for however You want to use me, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!