An election is announced!

At last, the date of the General Election has been set. Having hung on by his fingernails, for as long as he could, Gordon Brown has been obliged to give the British people their say.

The political pundits are predicting a 'hung' parliament - with no one party able to command an overall majority. Personally, I have no idea as to how it will all turn out, and who will be 'in power' on May 7th. I do, however, recall the old saying: "Man proposes, but God disposes"! As one who believes, fervently, in the sovereignty of God, I have no doubt that His will and purposes are being worked out, as year succeeds year.

This, of course, does not absolve the disciple of Jesus from prayer. Especially in the light of the unprecedented number of members of the outgoing parliament who - for whatever reason - are not seeking re-election, it has been my own prayer, for many months, that the Lord would see fit to use this opportunity to raise up a veritable army of men and women of faith and integrity, who would work together, across Party lines, to His glory, and bring something of the fragrance of the Lord Jesus to the corridors of the Palace of Westminster.

Whatever the coming four weeks may bring, we may be certain that we will hear the usual plethora of promises - even from the party that promised us a referendum on the new European Constitution, and then reneged on that promise. But let those of us who claim to be disciples of Jesus, be faithful in our praying; use our vote, if we have one; and rejoice that, whatever the outcome:

"God is still on the throne; and He will remember His own.
'Though trials may press us, and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone.
God is still on the throne; He never forsaketh His own.
His promise is true - He will not forget you.
God is still on the throne."