Paola Barrera

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Be Radical: Pray for Those You Disagree With

(Originally posted on Instagram, I decided to share it here too. Praying has been a balm during this heavy-hearted season. )

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Fellow Christ follower, 

You have neighbours, relatives, friends, and strangers around you who lament deeply, and who celebrate whole-heartedly the result of the election. 

I urge you, whichever reaction befalls your own heart, to remain a vessel of grace. Give God all your trust and confidence for the days to come. He's sovereign and not a leaf falls to the ground without his knowledge. 

Pray for the president-elect Joe Biden and his family, and for President Donald Trump and his family. Pray for their safety, health, and well-being. 

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9‭-‬10). 

Whatever your hope was for the election, your calling hasn't changed. To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God, remains our mandate. The result shouldn't alter or diminish that. 

And if you want to be truly radical, start with the people who voted differently than you. Pray for them, ask Jesus to give you a heart for them if you don't feel like it. We're broken and finite. God isn't. He uses breakable flawed jars of clay to shine otherworldly love. And he is always in charge.

Be the difference-maker who can "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.  Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (Romans 12:14‭-‬18)