As life has transpired this week, watching the news and thinking about God’s Word. I have found myself pondering some things and talking to God about them, and I am sharing them with you today.

This week we had an election. I am not here to go political, so give me a few moments with this. I read that only 49% of people voted in this election. Out of this whole country, a little less than half of us voted.

This has boggled my mind for many reasons honestly.

I have not personally been in many conversations about it or seen as much online, but I tend to try to stay away from that too. It has sounded from others like it has been pretty volatile on there with strong opinions from both sides.

It got me thinking though. There seem to be a lot of responses, reactions, and input on the outcome, yet only 49% of us took part in it.

No matter what side you are politically, if we want to see change, the same, or a mix of both, we have to participate, we have to go and vote.

We can’t just sit back, sit home, or let other people do it and expect to make a difference.

This thought brought me back to God’s Word.

There are multiple places in the Bible where God gives people an instruction, something they are responsible for doing, and then we see what God does.

In Joshua 3:13-16, Before God stopped the flow of the Jordan River so the Israelites could cross, He commanded the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to step into the raging water first.

In Joshua 6:1-5, God promised to bring down the walls of Jericho, but the Israelites still had to obey His instructions. They had to march around the city day after day, and then follow His specific instructions on the seventh day.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7, to save a widow from her creditors, God multiplied her tiny jar of oil, but only after she went to all her neighbors and borrowed as many jars from them as she could.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, if we trust in the Lord, don’t lean on our own understanding; acknowledge Him in all our ways. Then He will make our paths straight.

In Jeremiah 29:13, we will find Him when we seek Him with ALL of our heart.

In James 4:8, if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. If we hear His voice and open the door, He will come in and dine with us and us with Him

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, if we who are called by His name, humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.

There are many, many more examples in scripture as well.

God is a good Father.

He has done what we could never do for ourselves. He has made the ultimate sacrifice for us; He offers us grace, forgiveness, relationship, and new life.

But He also gives us a part to play.

We have a responsibility to respond to what He has done and given to us. We have to choose to walk in obedience. We have to choose to seek Him. We have to choose to draw near. We have to choose to live the life He has called us to live.

And just as we have been given a responsibility as citizens to participate in the life He has called us to.

Men and women have died to give us this right as people to vote in this country. That is not something I want to take for granted.

And yet, we can sometimes squander that opportunity and then complain about the outcome.

The same thing can happen in our walk with God.

We can sit back and do nothing and then wonder why we aren’t seeing change.

We can ask God why He isn’t moving, while never asking ourselves what he might be asking us to do.

God gives us clear instructions in His Word. He gives us promises, but He also gives us direction. He shows us what He expects of us and what our responsibility is.

We have a part to play.

So today my prayer is that we would all, including myself, come before God with open hearts.

That we would let Him search us.

That we would let Him show us where we may have been sitting back, waiting for results, while He has already given us something to do.

Maybe there is an area where God is asking you to take the first step.

Maybe He is asking you to forgive.

Maybe He is asking you to seek Him.

Maybe He is asking you to obey.

Maybe He is asking you to speak.

Maybe He is asking you to stop striving and simply draw near.

Whatever it is, may we be willing to do our part.

Because God is faithful to do His.

We have a part to play.