As believers in Jesus Christ, we do not place our hope in a politician, in an election, in a medical breakthrough or in a thriving economy.

All of those things would certainly be wonderful to experience and would undoubtedly make our lives much easier in the natural. However, we are the extraordinary band of people who are called to walk by faith and not by sight. We are the ones who see the unseen and who hope in the goodness of God rather than in the ease of our culture. We are in this world but not of this world, and so we choose to focus on that which is eternal rather than on that which is temporal.

We will stand up for what is righteous and for what is biblically true, but our hope lies not in a favorable outcome of an election but in the one who will have the final and authoritative say. We will vote our conscience, and we will diligently pray for those who lead our nation and the world.

We will pray for the scientists and for the doctors who work tirelessly to bring an end to the ravages of an oftentimes fatal virus, but we will also beseech heaven for miraculous healings, and we will contend for the hearts of those who are afflicted with illness to turn to Christ. We will all face eternity someday; whether our time on earth is stilled by COVID-19 or by the glory of old age, we all determine today, while living in the war zone of earth, where we will spend eternity.

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I choose faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, I choose heaven.

When the economy fails and when unemployment soars, we will recognize our Creator as our provider and sustainer. It is He who gives to His children in times of need and deprivation. We will declare with Paul, "But my God shall supply your every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

We will continue to give of our finances faithfully to the unshakable kingdom of Christ when the kingdoms of this world are being shaken by economic disaster. Our giving is not motivated by what is in our bank accounts but comes in response to the majesty of His nature and to the call of His kingdom.

We will join with other comrades of our vibrant faith such as Daniel, Joseph, Esther and Peter who refused to be swayed by the failure of the culture but who chose to set their minds on the one who is always faithful, infinitely wise and eternally kind. We will dare to be counted among our brothers and sisters of the faith of whom Scripture declares, "The world was not worthy of them" (Heb. 11:38a).

Keep up your courage, men and women of faith! God has always had a people who defied the failures of earthbound living with a purposeful and dynamic belief in Him whose Word is always true. He has not lost a battle yet and He is not about to suffer defeat in our generation!

We, as the people of God in the 21st century, will pray on, sing louder than our circumstances, offer perpetual kindness to those in need and keep our eyes on the one who never changes.

Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical, biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written 11 books, including Significant, StormProof and Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming.

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