The United States votes every four years in the presidential elections. Campaigns are becoming increasingly longer and frightfully more costly. Once the voting ceases, however, the country generally knows who’s the winner within hours.

But this is the year 2020 and nothing has been normal. We have had the most serious pandemic since the Spanish flu a century earlier. Countries went into lockdown, affecting the citizenry and the economy. Australia has had its first recession in 30 years. Then there were the American riots and continued social unrest.

What about the presidential candidates themselves? Though more than 20 people put up there hand for the Democratic Party nomination, the man who was chosen is the oldest major party candidate to run for office at the age of 77 (soon to be 78). He has spent much of the campaign season in his Delaware basement. Both political parties, the Democrats and Republicans, largely had their conventions in virtual mode. And when November 3rd passed, in stead of having the issue resolved, as of this writing, we have a contested election that is heading for the courts.

Yet there is an historic precedent: 20 years ago the 2000 Presidential Election between Vice-President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush also went to the courts. America had to wait 6 weeks to see who the next President would be.

Here are a few reflections on the 2020 election:

1. Opposition: Regardless of what you think of President Donald Trump, you have to admit that he has faced furious opposition, perhaps more than any other president. False dossier, FISA warrants to spy on his campaign, opposition from the media, the Democrats, ‘Never-Trumper’ Republicans, academia, and hostile Hollywood. There was elector meddling, Mueller Probe, Russia hoax, and impeachment. In 2020 the nation was hit with a pandemic, lockdown, economic downturn and riots, all used by his enemies to stop his re-election. The President even caught Covid-19! Now we have a contested election.
2. Meddling: 2020 is not the first time that there has been attempts to meddle with US elections, but this year has been exceptional. The methods of meddling are legion, for they are many: Computer hackers; a hostile media; civil unrest; big tech; Hollywood; the ‘billionaire’s club,’ all coalesce to form a dam of opposition. One of the fears was that mail-in ballots were a recipe for voter fraud, a point President Trump reiterated repeatedly. Now, it appears that one state has more ballots than registered voters. In another every mail-in ballot tabulated votes for the same person, every time. Tampering with people’s ballots is a criminal offence but it appears to be happening anyway. While voter turnout may be higher than normal, the concern is how many of those ballots are legitimate? Remember, voter fraud seriously undermines democracy and the rule of law. Like some third world country, does the United States now impartial election observers to prevent fraud?
3. World interest: Of course, it is normal for the world to take interest in who will win the US presidential election. For decades, as the sole superpower, the United States is considered the leader of the free world. To some extent, the world is affected by what happens out of Washington. Yet, this particular election, and its aftermath, has caught the imagination of the world like no other. Global citizens are watching and many are praying.
4. The most important election: For decades during an election year, people say, ‘This is the most important election of our lifetime.’ One of the clearest things about Election 2020: it really is the most important. Why? It is not just about the candidates involved, but about the worldview on offer. For years, there wasn’t a lot of difference between the two major political parties. In 2020, there is a Grand Canyon-sized difference. One party is leftist globalist, the other right-leaning nationalist; one party is pro-abortion, the other pro-life; one party is motivated by progressivism, identity politics, intersectionality, the other has an America first agenda; one sees America as systemically racist, the other that America is good and exceptional; one party has been influenced by cultural Marxism while the other advocates Judaeo-Christian / Western values.

The Spiritual Dimension: As a Christian minister, I clearly see that above all these issues is the active spiritual realm. Strongholds of lawlessness, rebellion, hatred, fear, violence, division, deception, cancel-culture, Marxism, Jezebel, and Moloch, are firing up. How can we respond to these challenges?

Prophecy: There have been credible prophetic voices speaking about the outcome of this election. If you believe these prophecies, stand on them … that’s how you can fight the good fight of faith. Paul says1 Timothy 1:18: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.

Prayer: The second thing is prayer: Much individual, group, and mass corporate prayer has been offered during campaign 2020, including prayer marches on Washington, DC. Many Christians overseas are doing the same. One Australian wrote that he has never prayed so much in his entire life as he had for the 2020 US election. Other people in other countries are doing the same. A great exhortation comes from Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Pray for mercy on the United States, God’s will to be done, and a quick resolution of the electoral impasse.

Perseverance: It’s simple. If the battle continues, then keep going. Galatians 6:9 promises we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.

Revival: If many of us have been praying more than ever, and it is worldwide, think about it … we are preparing for revival 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Remember that effectual fervent prayer is like casting a ballot in heaven, with the blessings raining back on the earth. Ask the LORD that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven — Matthew 6:9-13.