"Paul the Apostle reminds us
in Colossians 3:1-2 to 'set our minds and hearts on things above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God.' Our greatest impact as
Christians comes not as we focus on things on the earth, but as we come
to understand Whose we are and who we are in Christ, and apprehend by
faith and prayer all that God has given us through Christ, bringing
God's Kingdom and power and glory and blessings from Heaven to earth."
–Clayton Ford
Last
week's historic election of Donald Trump to America's highest office
came as an impossible surprise to many, but among the Body of Christ in
the U.S. who had largely supported the admittedly flawed candidate, it
was a fulfillment of many prophetic words and prayers. (Photo: Public Domain image/via Pixabay)
I'm reminded of the Prophet Samuel who—charged by God to anoint the
next king from Jesse's sons—began with the most likely choices judging
by earthly standards. But God had chosen the most UNlikely one, a simple
shepherd boy named David. God reminded Samuel that He doesn't see us as
man sees—in a natural way, but He "looks on the heart."
How important it is for God's people to keep this in mind in this
season, trusting the Lord and asking Him to help us see through His
eyes. Ultimately the success of President-elect Trump's—and
America's—next four years will be "not by might, not by power, but by
[God's] Spirit."
Clayton Ford, National Co-Director of http://www.hsrm.org/#welcome-section - Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries , has a very timely word that speaks to this important mindset and directive for prayer:
Jesus
said, "My Kingdom is not of this world." God's Kingdom certainly
affects the earthly kingdom. When we pray, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will
be done on earth as it is in Heaven", we are praying that the life,
power, love, resources, presence of our King come into our world and
transform it. God's primary way of accomplishing that is not through
politics but by His Spirit through the proclamation and prayers and
Spirit-anointed actions of the saints. Yes, we do have stewardship
responsibilities to use our political freedoms for the cause of
righteousness and justice. But I believe we Believers need to be careful
not to lower our spiritual center of gravity from the Kingdom/heavenly
realm to the earthly realm. (Photo: Clayton Ford/courtesy)
Paul the Apostle reminds us in Colossians 3:1-2 to "set our minds and
hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of
God." Our greatest impact as Christians comes not as we focus on things
on the earth, but as we come to understand Whose we are and who we are
in Christ, and apprehend by faith and prayer all that God has given us
through Christ, bringing God's Kingdom and power and glory and blessings
from Heaven to earth.
When we Christians allow ourselves to become bitterly divided
over ideologies, or grieve to the point of being nearly incapacitated
over the outcome of an election, perhaps it is a sign that we have
become "too EARTHLY minded to be of any earthly good." Perhaps we need
to focus our attention on Jesus, on things above, on His Kingdom.
There's a difference between the presence of the Kingdom and your
ideology, you know. Earnest Christians need to be united in Christ,
ambassadors for Christ, and agents of reconciliation. We can't
effectively do that when we're bitterly divided, angry, accusatory, and
hateful. Love and blessings! -Clayton Ford
Visit Clayton Ford's blog: Spirit-Filled Life by clicking http://www.claytonford.net/ - here .
Whether or not you voted for him, President-elect Donald Trump has
sincerely asked for God's people to "surround [him] with prayer." What
amazing things can be accomplished during this next season if we will,
as God—who most often chooses to work through the intercession and hands
of His children—does "exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask
or think."