I mean, if we all can band together to vote, why can’t we band together to encourage each other, pray for one another, help each other, pull those up who have fallen, feed those who are hungry, clothe those who are without and stop judging those who may be going through? See, I think that if we all had the same determination we’ve had the past few weeks on getting folks to vote as with getting folks to pray, we may just be better today than yesterday. (But these are simply my thoughts). My bible tells me in James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Yea, you voted but have you prayed? I don’t mean just on last night as the election results came in but I mean have you been praying? It’s crazy that on last night God heard voices of folk he hadn’t heard in a while simply over this election when the bible says in Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Yea, you voted but have you prayed? Don’t you know that God has a plan and a purpose for everything that happens? The devil has to ask permission before he can even step to you but you’d rather put your trust in human flesh who will let you down rather than a Man who has never wavered in His promise to you. 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;” oh and 1 Timothy 2:9 continues by saying, “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” See, God isn’t concerned about your Obama or your Romney sticker but He is concern about your heart, your mind, your body and your soul. Yea, you voted but have you prayed?
So, yea, you may have voted and you may have even gotten others to vote but have you been praying for your neighbor who has been unemployed for 6 months and still looking for work? Have you prayed for the student who has been bullied every day since school started or the young man who was jumped into a gang because he doesn’t feel loved by anybody at home or the young girl who is pregnant and doesn’t even know who the father is because she has been taught that you give love with what’s between her legs. Have you stopped to pray for the mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer or the father with colon cancer? Have you stopped to pray for the child who has been at St. Jude the majority of his or her young life? Have you prayed for the police officer who inflicts pain on folks by hiding behind his badge, the teacher who is addicted to cocaine, the principal who is a closed door alcoholic, the gym teacher who takes advantage of the students they are supposed to protect or the guidance counselor who finds joy in stepping on the dreams of kids? Have you prayed for your friend who is going through and is contemplating suicide or have you even taken the time to hear the pain in their voice in between you asking them if they’ve voted? Have you even prayed for yourself in the midst of all this? Yea, you were quick to offer a ride to the voting polls but you don’t even respond to the text when someone ask you to take them to the grocery store (unless you get something out of it). Yea, you were in line when the polls opened but then you drag your tail to worship service an hour late and then expect God to fill you with the Holy Spirit as soon as you walk in the door. Please don’t get me wrong, I am glad that you voted because it is a right that many fought for us to have but God gave His ONLY Son so that we could sin and then be forgiven for it, die so that we can live again, get hurt by folks and have our hearts mended, be sick and get healing, be considered last but be made first and even be knocked down but can get up better than you were before. So, don’t get it twisted thinking that I am trying to make light of the situation but what I am saying is, put the same determination into your faith in God and into the gift that has been designed especially for you. Yea, you voted but have you prayed?
Lakisha, the Author 