Voting is a Gift

So, the election......I absolutely do not want this blog to become "Amy's opinions about everything..." (I should actually have a separate blog for that as my opinions often stray from the "love of Christ compels me").  I do feel compelled, however, to speak truth when I feel Jesus is telling me to, so here goes..... No, I am not going to tell anyone how to vote because I am not an obnoxious celebrity, that is between you and your conscience.  However,  I am going to speak to something I am passionate about and I think our good Lord placed that passion inside me for His purpose and glory. HOW I express that passion is where I have to be careful, as anyone who knows me and my big mouth can attest.
So, what is it I feel compelled to say?  I think our choices in this year's election are driven by two things: one side is driven by hope and freedom, the other by fear and panic.  God has told us in His Word that the only thing we are to fear, in reverence, is HIM (Luke 12:5, to name one of many).  We are told repeatedly to fear nothing else (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 41:10, to name only a few of many).  Am I driven by fear or am I driven by freedom?  Freedom actually scares people who are driven by fear because when you are free in your mind and spirit, you can't be controlled by outside forces.  People who are afraid will choose being controlled by a hollow promise of "safety" because it is easy.  Freedom is the hard choice, just as following Christ is the hard choice in this world and hearing truth when we would rather let pretty lies tickle our ears (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Truth and honesty make people uncomfortable, but the Bible tells us that it is truth that sets us free (John 8:31-32). 
I think too often people make decisions out of fear and emotion and forget that our brains are also a gift from God and I think He expects us to use them to make responsible decisions.  Intelligence and common sense are gifts just like love and compassion are gifts and I think we should be using these in balance, not one OR the other.  
God has given us the ability to discern truth and think for ourselves.  God values freedom and choice because He gives them to us in His grace even though He has the power to command and force us to do what He wants, so remember that when you vote this year.   God doesn't need any of us to accomplish His will and He can accomplish it no matter who the President is, but He is gracious enough to allow us to participate in His plans and I hope none of us take that for granted.  So, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 you get to make your voice heard.  Please make sure that the voice you use is driven by freedom over fear, intelligence over emotion, and candidate platform over personality.  We need to be voting for someone who values all life and fights to see that we have the freedom to live it!