It’s hard to believe that election day is so close! Having been in Northwoods for a week (and consequently out of touch with the rest of the world) and then busily catching up on things at work, the long-awaited day snuck up faster than ever I thought possible. I woke up this Saturday morning wishing that there was something more I could have done for the virtue of this crucial election beyond casting my vote.

But there was one encouraging fact: election day was still 3 days away! It hadn’t passed. There was still some time to give some energy and make some sacrifice.

So, with that in mind (and with a long to-do list still sitting on my desk), I jumped on the campaigning trail at the last minute. No, I wasn’t privileged to help out at a Road to Victory rally for McCain; but I was able to volunteer my time to campaign for Illinois Republican Marty Ozinga who is running for Congress. Though I personally can’t vote for him because I’m not from Illinois, I knew that supporting him would be advantageous from the vantage point of the bigger picture.

Between 10:00 and 4:00, our group passed out literature in several northwestern Illinois neighborhoods. In total, we hit at least 1,000 homes, encouraging supporters to talk to their friends, straddlers to consider utilizing their vote, and non-supporters to reexamine their position. It was a lot of fun! I had some good conversations and some not so good ones.It was well worth the sacrifice and I feel that the effort those made out there today will not be in vain.

How many days are left before election day? It will be different for each person reading this post. For some, it might be three, one or even less. For others, it could be 364. Regardless of how many days it is to election day, there is always something more we can do to go beyond just casting our vote!

Of course, prayer is the first thing that comes to mind. Am I taking every opportunity to pray for the Christians of America? Pray on the way to work. Pray on the way home. Pray before going to sleep. Pray when you wake up. Pray without ceasing.  

Another dynamic of prayer is found in praying together with other believers. I have been doing this recently and find it to be very powerful. My next prayer meeting is Tuesday morning. Two are better than one and a three cord cord is not easily broken. “…if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

What about fasting? What can I give up to make more time for prayer? “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said…” (Daniel 9:3-4).

Then there are the practical things that only the Holy Spirit can prompt us to do. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7), giving including time, money or energy.

May America bless God, and in turn, may God bless America!