My eyes traced the lines of a delicate tree branch then glanced back to the open sketchbook resting in my lap. I began to draw, yearning to capture each graceful shape with my pen.

At first I looked often at the tree, not wanting to misunderstand or misrepresent its beauty. But the longer I sketched, the more focused I became on my artwork. Within minutes the drawing looked more like a thoughtless scribble than a lovely maple. What went wrong? I wondered in frustration. How did I end up with such a disastrous piece of artwork? "Ugh!"

I soon realized that I couldn't draw the tree accurately because I had ceased looking at it. Thinking I knew it well enough to sketch from memory, I began inventing branches that weren't really there.

"Consult nature in everything," said Leonardo da Vinci. "Whoever thinks he can remember the infinite teachings of nature flatters himself. Memory is not that huge." Even the great master knew he couldn't remember everything. He understood that an artist must keep looking to what is really there, not to what he thinks is there, if he wants to draw something realistically. So he kept looking.

Sitting there staring at my "scribbley-tree" drawing, I realized that I often approach God in the same way I had approached this drawing. I start out focused on God but then lose sight of His true nature. I assume I know Him well enough to neglect spending consistent time with Him in His Word and with His people. Eventually, a distorted version of God, which I've manufactured in my head, muddles my thinking. In my confusion I succumb to fear, anxiety and suspicion, doubting God's goodness—not because He ceases being good, but because I cease looking at Him.

If I am to know God and not just my image of Him, I must keep looking intently at Him. Hebrews 12:2 reminds me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Otherwise, my corrupted, self-created understanding of God makes a scribbled mess of the truth and distracts me from the reality of His character.

I turned the page of my sketchbook. Paying more attention to the tree than to my rendering of it, this time I captured the maple's simple beauty with the downward motion of my pen. As in my relationship with God, adjusting my focus changed everything.

Jesus used a filter process to help identify people with potential to disciple others. He evangelized widely, involved followers and selected a few committed disciples.

Wherever Jesus went, He spoke about God's truth and how spiritual matters related to His listeners. He called many to follow Him. As some responded to His call, He took the initiative to involve them in His ministry, allowing them an opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness and a desire to grow. Jesus helped build them to a point of personal commitment to Him. Only then did He select and challenge a dozen to be His key disciples and carry on His ministry (Mark 3:13,14).

Now it's our turn. As we take the initiative to communicate the gospel to others, He will raise up people willing to follow Him. Involve those who respond to Christ in ministry with you, and later, challenge a committed few to discipleship. As we rely on Christ and follow His example, He will continue His purpose of reaching the world.

I can still picture my grandpa kneeling beside his bed in his blue-and-white-striped pajamas, eyes closed, lips moving. Each morning and evening the Rev. William E. Master talked alone with God. When I stayed in his Missouri home during family vacations, I would often sneak out of bed and peer around the doorframe to watch this sacred conversation.

To Grandpa, praying was as natural as bass fishing. Throughout his day, he stopped to thank God, to ask Him for help or to pray for someone in his congregation. He talked as if God stood beside him and often whistled hymns of praise as he worked around the house. But what I remember most vividly is his kneeling frame in private. Grandpa's consistent example etched in my mind that God was worth talking to, and that He heard the cries of His children.

Each day, Grandpa's waking words and final thoughts were uttered to his loving Father. No doubt it was spiritual discipline, a habit developed over years of faithfulness. Yet I caught his child-like dependence on God and a love that could not keep silent.

My grandfather's memory failed in his later years. Still he knelt by his bed each morning and evening, long after his favorite fishing lure lay forgotten. And still would I sneak around the corner during my visits to watch this intimate conversation.

May I never forget, nor fail to follow his example.

In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide," said Noah Webster, one of our nation's leading intellectuals. "Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate—look to his character. . . . It is alleged by men of loose principles, or defective views of the subject, that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for political stations. But the Scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. . . .

"When a citizen gives his vote to a man of known immorality, he abuses his civic responsibility; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country."

Citizenship in a free country is a blessing from God. Our great system of self-government assures every citizen a voice in the affairs of the nation, and enables us to bring a heavenly perspective to the earthly realm. God wants us to do His will in government, just as in the church and in the home.

Mark Twain understood the importance of a Christian's responsibility as a citizen. "A Christian's first duty is to God," he said. "It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them."

PRAY

It is undeniable that our once great country, now mired in numerous social ills, is facing an unparalleled moral crisis. God alone holds the solution to our nation's problems—but we hold the key. Healing our nation begins with the prayers of the saints.

Pray that God will send a great spiritual awakening to America, that many millions of our citizens will receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and that Christians will surrender themselves to God for spiritual living and active service within the family, the church and the nation.

Pray that men and women of God—individuals of integrity and honor—will be elected to public office at all levels of leadership so that righteous rulership is restored.

Pray "for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness" (1 Timothy 2:2, New Living Translation). We may be tempted to criticize our elected officials, but praying for them is far more profitable and effective.

Pray that leaders will be filled with godly wisdom and stand firm for what is right and true.

REGISTER TO VOTE

To protect His people, God warns against ungodly leaders. "The wicked will not rule the godly, for then the godly might be forced to do wrong" (Psalm 125:3, NLT).

Voting is a matter of stewardship under God, yet many of God's people throughout America are not even registered to vote. King Solomon writes, "Upright citizens bless a city and make it prosper" (Proverbs 11:11, NLT).

Register as soon as possible so that you can vote in the next election. There may be a registration deadline several weeks before an election, so do not wait until it is too late. Voter registration forms are often readily available at post offices, libraries or motor-vehicle licensing agencies.

BECOME INFORMED

Just as the untrained soldier is at the mercy of his enemy, the uninformed Christian cannot prevail against evil forces in the world of politics. Knowledge is essential to effective action.

Make a sincere effort to obtain reliable information about all issues and candidates. If a candidate is running for re-election, find out how he or she voted on issues of critical importance to our families and our nation.

Numerous organizations and ministries provide summaries of current issues and updates on pending legislation. Many groups have databases you can search at their Internet Web site, or will send weekly or monthly updates by e-mail or fax if you request them.

HELP ELECT GODLY PEOPLE

Help select and elect men and women of God to public office at the local, state and national levels. Support them faithfully throughout their terms of public service by lovingly sharing with them the biblical views on issues, praying for them and encouraging them.

"When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan" (Proverbs 29:2, NLT). Restore righteous rule and rejoicing in America by electing godly people to positions of authority.

The Word of God gives us the basic qualifications of a good candidate: "Find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. . . . These men can serve the people" (Exodus 18:21,22, NLT).

The six qualifications listed in this passage are: demonstrated capability (competence in managing business or professional affairs), godliness (spiritual maturity), honesty, integrity, industriousness and justice.

Apply these standards carefully and prayerfully in selecting candidates.

Your local precincts are the key to victory for a godly candidate. Acquire the official precinct maps covering the district in which your candidate is running for public office. Become a precinct leader and encourage other Christians to take responsibility under God for their precincts. Enlist volunteers and assign each one to certain streets within the precinct so that all homes will be visited.

Since there are only approximately 175,000 precincts in the U.S., a relatively few godly people involved at the precinct level can help to change the direction of this nation.

VOTE

It is commonly believed that decisions in America are made by a majority. This is not so. Decisions are made by a majority of those who vote. By one vote, Texas was admitted to the Union. By one vote, Hitler won leadership of the German Nazi Party. By one vote, the U.S. House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson as President. Your vote makes a difference!

If we fail to vote for godly rule, evil will increase in our nation and we will bear the consequences of our choices: "You will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but the Lord will not help you" (1 Samuel 8:18, NLT).

In making your decisions, let the Word of God be your guide. If there is no qualified candidate who is spiritually mature, vote for the one whose personal principles and platform most nearly agree with your own Christian position, based on the Bible.

Remember that a person's principles are far more important than his party affiliation. To place confidence in unworthy candidates is a miscarriage of biblical stewardship. "Putting confidence in an unreliable person is like chewing with a toothache, or walking on a broken foot" (Proverbs 25:19, NLT).

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were dedicated to the cause of freedom. Any less dedication on our part will result in a loss of that precious freedom for which they and tens of thousands of others were willing to die.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world," said George Washington, "without God and the Bible."

To read the entire text of Bill Bright's booklet Your Five Duties as a Citizen, you can order the booklet from New Life Publications at www.newlifepubs.com or 1-800-235-7255.