Lessons from the Kenyan Elections (2013)

When I got back home after queuing for 3 and half hours, I began to think about certain lessons I have learned towards the countdown to Kenya's historic elections. When you think about it we have actually participated in a historic moment: the new constitution is in place and we are in our season of Jubilee as a nation. What a privilege and what an opportune time to be alive! 

So what have I learned?

1. LESSON ONE: Praying for the nation is not something I should only do when it is election time. I learned that the more I prayed the more the Lord laid on my heart specific things about this nation that needed to be dealt with in prayer. The more I prayed, not necessarily in a prayer meeting or during my quiet time, but even as I walked in my neighborhood or commuted from one place to another, there were the whispers in my heart that God answered PAP, or waited for me to be in a church setting and He would answer using certain aspects of various sermons. I learned that when I would ask whom to vote for He actually would reveal to me, in His own way, a statement here, an act there, and then it was with profound humility that I realized God does actually care and is concerned about these civic matters. The first time my answer to prayer came, I began to realize the importance of shutting out ALL distraction that would have made me vote using human wisdom or counsel.One evening I thought about a certain candidate and I had actually considered voting for him, and then the next evening he was in my neighborhood to campaign, and as soon as he began speaking, I knew, "Wolololo, no!"
2. LESSON TWO: That God is not in the business of popularity. He does not move with the majority and so in as much as some of my candidates may not win, it does not mean that I am a failure or I heard wrong. For me the most important thing is that I voted on principle (values, integrity, etc) and not principal (individual or personality). I chose to vote values and integrity and talking to a friend this afternoon we realized that even in a secret ballot God still sees whose name has been ticked. And as we shared we realized that our actions in listening to God and obeying Him means that righteousness is credited to us. Some of us may not want to believe this but I do, with all of my heart. If I vote for someone based on personal or selfish bias, God, who sees my heart, knows and it does bear significance in the spiritual realm. There is nothing we do as Christians that we do just for the sake of it - nothing whatsoever! Everything and who we are, does count and so my vote counted in that little booth!
3. LESSON THREE: That what we do as Christians is not necessarily for us. As I cast that vote I thought about the newborns up until those aged 25 as of today. This is the generation that is most likely to live up to the next Jubilee if Christ tarries. I cast my vote not for me but for my children and children's children (I don't need to have biological children to think this way) and I would never want the ills that have plagued society to rear their ugly heads among these young ones. So the vote I cast today, in this year of Jubilee, was done by faith; that a process has begun that will ensure the younger people in this nation, and in Africa, will live better lives, will have access to opportunities that I never had, and that they will find a foundation of righteousness and justice upon which to stand. Hopefully, in continuing with Hebrews 11, may there be a verse inscribed in heaven that reads, "by faith Luci cast her vote in Kenya, overlooking all prejudice and seeking God's will to be done." (hehehehe!!!)
4. LESSON FOUR: That God's Sovereign will over a nation can never be thwarted. And that He is the One who promotes one and brings down another. That He is God over the affairs of the world and that no-one can ever beat that. That even as I have prayed, and voted, I still need to humble myself and say, "Lord, not my will but your will be done!" knowing fully well that I did play my Christian and civic duty. I also have learned that God is able to turn around situations and work out everything for the good of those who love Him and are called by His Name. I also know that I am not a Kenyan by accident - He orchestrated it and He knew that at such a time as this I'd be forming part of Kenya's history.
5. LESSON FIVE: That the church's role in Civic Education can never and should never be underestimated or overlooked. It was in my local church that I learned about the different ballot boxes for the different set of candidates way before IEBC and the TV stations did their part. I was then able to educate those within my circle. And so as members of the body of Christ we should never be silent on civic matters; but rather let our voices be raised even in condemning injustice and unrighteousness in our nation. When we see things going wrong, we should not just stop at praying in the comfort of our private closets or in church, but we should use every opportunity accorded to us, especially in our spheres of influence, and be the prophetic voice, the voice of reason, to speak hope in the lives of our fellow human beings. 

Five lessons, one election. I feel there is a shift in the country's destiny. We have turned over a new leaf and this nation will never be the same. The church is also standing on the threshold of something new. I believe we are going to witness the outpouring of the Spirit of God in this nation just as prophesied in Joel 2:28. I also believe God is calling us to become new wine skins in order to take in the new wine. The old has passed and the new has come. God is doing a new thing and He is asking us to forget the former things and not dwell on the past. 

And so on this historical date, no matter the outcome, we need to remember that as children of God, we are living lives, not as defined by the political arena, but as defined by God's Word over our lives and over the church. Remember, He will build the church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. We are a body, called to shine in darkness, called to influence our world towards the righteousness and the grace of God. "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). I believe we are going to witness the manifestation of the true sons of God in this season and so we have to arise, against whatever odds there are, and be the people God says we are. Let us be the ones who boldly speak against the various ills in society, let us be the ones that set the standards of excellence wherever we are, let us be the ones that show compassion and love to the marginalized, let us be the ones who share the love of Christ with those who are in darkness, let us be the people that God says we are.

I keep thinking, if there is one thing this entire process has taught me, God is really interested in the destinies of nations and He has honored me as His daughter to join Him in ensuring that Kenya's destiny is solely God-driven. What a privilege. And so even as I wait, it is with a heart full of gratitude. 

Oh! One other thing - I loved the fact that there are young people aged below 25 (mnajijua) who registered as voters and they have voted! Kudos! God bless you!