As I write this on Wednesday night we are still waiting to know who will be our next President. As for others, last night was a nightmare and today the shock is lifting to reveal (as Dutch Sheets and Doug Fortune have already spoken) we must press in. As I sat in our church prayer room today that was my prayer -"I'm PRESSING IN, Father - I'm pressing in to the pressure and I will not stop. Show me how to speak into this - what is in Your Heart?" First of all He reminded me of a prayer I prayed about a week ago when I complained, "Father, the people don't SEE the battle that you see waged in the spiritual realm - if they could SEE the battle they would be motivated to pray and fight - but they're only human - with human eyes - they don't see as You see." Then I realized - this chaos in the election is a very good picture of the battle in the spiritual realm - the battle that is going on around us day after day. Right now we are saying - Where's the voters? - Where's the common sense? - What's the matter with people? How could this election go like this?" All along, God has been saying, " Where's the intercessors? Where are My Prophets? Where is My righteous Church? How could the people I created allow their nation to become filled with blood?" Can't we see life from His perspective? Of all the nations of the earth that He created - isn't there ONE that can reflect His glory? Do ALL have to turn aside to corruption? Can't ONE nation be an image of His Love, Forgiveness, and Life? Will we all just leave Him alone in the rejection we've heaped upon Him as we've run here and there picking up foolish trinkets we call wealth? Who will stand with Him? Who will stand and answer His prayer?

As I waited for Him to speak this a.m. this is what I heard. "My Heart aches in loneliness - I have waited, I have been patient - how much longer do I need to wait before My own people - the people I brought out of darkness - the people whose chains I have broken and set in a high place - decide to grow up? When will these that I've loved and cared for, begin to live before Me as responsible children of the Living God? You have been foolish children. You have been spoiled with Your many blessings. I called you when morning was fresh and new - I called you to come and walk with Me in the new day. But you would not be roused from your sleep. You have laid in your beds and said, "Don't wake me - I enjoy my sleep." I have called you many times but you would not come - the night is drawing near - even now the shadows are gathering as darkness creeps into your world. You have lost much in the day - should I accept you now?"

(Father, even the last laborers were welcome!) "Should I trust you yet once more?" (Again I prayed," Let us be the nation You've always longed for.")

He did not give me an answer as to how things will turn out in the election. I believe He is waiting to see if we will press in - will we come against the spirits of confusion? Will we continue to pray as we have already been exhorted strongly to do, or will we go back to sleep or busy ourselves with our trinkets? I do know that if we do press in - if we fight for righteousness - against the spiritual forces of darkness - He will be with our mouths - He will speak His word through us and reveal Himself - He will use us as conduits of His glory - living lanterns filled with the Holy Oil of the Holy Spirit. It is entirely up to us - which way will we go? I cannot leave Him alone in this - He is my Father - His Heart is broken. submitted by Marsha Allred