The following is a chapter from my book, My Souls Sings for YOU, written and published in 2019 …..

How do you feel about elections?  For many years I had to sit on the sidelines, unable to participate in any election, as I was not yet a citizen of the United States. Neither had I ever voted in the UK, my birth country because I left before voting age. I was nineteen years old when I moved to the U.S. and at that time in the UK, the voting age was twenty-one. I sort of fell between the cracks.

So, when I finally was naturalized as a citizen, I literally couldn’t wait for the next election so I could have a voice. I was thrilled the first time I cast my ballot.

I love to vote. I consider election day one of the “high” days. It always feels so good to exercise my privilege to cast a ballot for candidates of my choice, and I especially enjoy being able to do it early to avoid the craziness of the official day. I’m so grateful for the freedom to vote my conscience with no fear of coercion, no mandate to choose a designated candidate, and no worry of personal reprisal for my selection, except possibly some sneers or jeers from those who ardently oppose the candidates whose names I checked on the ballot.

Does it seem to you that the tone of elections has intensified, and the rhetoric become more hateful with each passing year? Have you noticed that the campaigning starts earlier and earlier and dominates the news long before the actual day to vote? Despite all the increasingly desperate and intense attempts from candidates to garner votes, along with the incessant chatter of mass media and political spin artists, we thankfully reside in a country where we, the people, still elect our governing body by casting a ballot. I thank God for that freedom. Around election time, I always think about those souls who shed precious blood in bygone times, to secure the right for each of us to vote our conscience.

The current times are full of intrigue. It’s an exciting period in which to live. I wonder what the next election will bring and if the candidates will be loud and contentious. I’ve known a few elections in my time, but in recent ones the intensity of personal attacks, accusations, alleged lies, and corruption have reached an all-time high. I am not a fan of hate and personal attacks at any time, so I pray we become people who remain passionate to our political beliefs but refrain from vicious personal attacks against the opposing contenders and supporters.

No matter which side of the aisle you favor, I hope you desire civility, truth, and decorum from the candidates and their voters. I will be praying fervently for the direction of this great country. I hope you will too.

Here’s the thing. We don’t know what future national elections will bring, but when the kafuffle of the primaries calms down, we know we will probably end up with two presidential candidates with drastically opposing views on issues that face the nation. Possibly their political platforms may be distinct opposites. If elected, one will take us down one path, and the other will go in a completely different direction. Nowadays the norm seems to be a vast political divide in views and policies between left and right. There’s very little middle ground. There aren’t many gray areas to diffuse and confuse the selection process.

It makes for an easier choice.

Well, it’s easier if you have a clear vision of what you want this nation to be in your grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s generations, and you know what will secure that picture. It’s easier if you refuse to listen to the opinions and agendas of all the spin artists (and others). It’s easier if you choose to hear the candidates themselves and thoughtfully assess where each one plans to take this nation in the future. It’s easier if you listen carefully to the words they speak and if you do your research and discern truth from exaggeration or untruth. It’s easier if you set aside the minutia, spin, and noise and decipher which political platform and which candidates are your best choices and then decide if you believe they will carry out their promises.

Once again, I urge you to pray for discernment. Elections determine the course of our nation’s history for years to come. By voting, we have an opportunity to have a valuable voice in creating history and determining the destiny of future generations. In my opinion, no election warrants folding your arms and sitting on the sidelines because you don’t like either candidate. A no vote for one is probably a vote for the other. While I respect everyone’s choice, I’m not a fan of throwaway votes to candidates who have so little support that they cannot possibly win.

And yes, we will hear all the media banter and the crazy polling numbers leading up to every election, and no, I don’t believe they’re always accurate. Neither should you. Polls can be skewed and misleading. So don’t be discouraged by thinking the polls decide any election. Instead, get out, and vote. Be empowered. Do it! Then wait for the results after the election. Don’t leave it to chance or to someone else’s vote.

Every vote counts.

So let’s follow each election process carefully. Be passionate about the outcome. If you’re a believer, pray. Listen and think long and hard. Search your soul and determine your selection.

Cast your vote.

As a believer myself, I’ve experienced the power of prayer many times in my life, so why would I not pray for discernment and then listen intently for answers from God? I know many in both parties are praying people. That’s a good thing. Our country needs all the prayer it can get. Thankfully, God loves every single soul because to Him each soul matters and every soul is precious in His sight.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
—Romans 8:31 (NIV)

God is on the side of every single human soul. But the enemy is not! The devil is a liar, and he’s the master of deception. He’s also against God. He blinds people to the truth, creating havoc, confusion, and doubt. Don’t be misled. Pray for our country, pray for the candidates, pray for each other, and pray for wisdom and discernment in your voting decision.

I suspect some voters will pray for God to be on the side of their candidate. Will you indulge me for a moment? There might be something more important than trying to sway God to choose the candidate you want. Instead, what if we asked ourselves this question: “Am I on the side of God?” Ponder that for a while. Knowing the nature of God, how does that influence your vote?

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
—Psalm 33:12 (NIV)