Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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Pray For the President, Whether You Voted For Him Or Not
Last night, I was thinking about how the election might go. For the last year we've heard of little else, other than the mortgage crisis and recession, and hopefully it's over now. I'm plain tired of it, and it looks like the guy I didn't vote for won.
So what? I had my say, I researched all the candidates for the other positions and voted to my preference, but it's over. So what if the other guy won? I truthfully didn't like either candidate, but I said to my mother today that perhaps I'll pray more for the winner if he wasn't the guy I voted for.
I certainly didn't pray enough for President Bush. He may not have done everything to my liking, but I'm not the only one he has to please. Still, I should have prayed more, but perhaps because I voted for him I felt that he best represented my stance. I still neglected the biggest part I could play.
Perhaps if the candidate who the majority of Christians don't want to win is elected, we'll all pray more. Whoever our President is, we must remember the guy isn't beyond redemption, so we shouldn't whine about him and curse him with our words.
I asked God how I could pray for our future President, and as soon as I had said that, I remembered the disciples asked Jesus very nearly the same question, "How should we pray?" His response began with, "Our Father who is in Heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom come, may your will be done."
Romans 13, Titus, 1 Peter 2...these all speak of respecting our government. If you'd like to argue that these referenced leaders were "good," recall that the Bible directed slaves/employees to respect their owners/employers even if they were cruel.
Consider also the book of Daniel. Few of the kings that reigned in that prophet's life started out righteous. Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, Cyrus...notice one constant in all these years: while Daniel and his friends remained faithful to Yahweh, they also respected their government. More than once, they were threatened with death by the decrees of their kings, and though they certainly didn't concede to all the kings' commands, they were respectful in their denial. Perhaps as a result, at least two of those kings and an untold number of their officials and family may have come to our Lord.
"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor is his ear too dull to hear." Isaiah 59:1, NIV
Again, our human government is not beyond the redeeming arm of Jesus; please remember this in your prayers.
How do you feel about the results of this year's election? Have you prayed for the new president elect yet?
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Comments (62)
I have mixed feelings about the election results. I have alot of respect and admiration for Barack Obama. He has made history. I also respect John McCain for fighting for our country in the past. However, I do believe that we should all support our president in his efforts to make our country better. That's something that I will do this time around. I regret not praying for Bush in the past and for not following politics more closely.
I've been praying for Obama the entire time. While there are things we don't agree on, I look to him as a man of character, especially as the race wore down and he chose not to condemn his competitor and last night when he reached out to McCain supporters. I believe God has raised him up and whatever happens we need to remember that Jesus is our ultimate Lord and Savior and that his kingdom will come eventually.
Praying for liberal Democrats is a waste of time. I prayed for Bill Clinton every day he was in office, and we all saw what good that did. I'm just praying God will minimize the damage and raise up a new leader for our nation soon. It's a sad day for America. It feels as though God has forsaken us.
While I did not vote for Obama, I do believe 100% that we should pray for him. We still live in this Country. He is going to be our next President and we need to stand behind him. I am a little worried that our Country is going to take an even bigger turn away from God, but I'm hoping that God will help lead Obama in the right direction. We can do this by prayer.
@paoguy118@xanga - Praying for you would be a waste of time too; you've hardened your heart, and that's nobody's fault but your own.
@LordofRogues@xanga - Well put.
I agree pray for our new leader...regardless. I'd be upset if McCain won...but I'd pray even HARDER since it was the one I didn't want and he won anyway...
I was in a chat room when the news came in about the concession speech. Altho there were five people I knew were firm Christians, the first person to invoke God was a professing Wicca. And he said, "May God keep him safe." (Not 'the gods' - God)
It is my most fervent prayer that we do pray for his safety, our general civility to one another and much more as I had stated on my page today. God is still in charge, and we are under directives to be his servants in upholding this government.
I will pray for this man, even though I don't like what he stands for at all. I believe in my heart the Lord wants us to pray for our leaders. I can't imagine the pressure they are in day in and day out. However, I do not see anything good coming out of this election at all other than the fact that maybe Christians will finally rise up and pray like they are supposed to. Maybe then as the scripture goes, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and heal their land". Maybe then the Lord will have mercy on us.
America is not mentioned anywhere in the bible, especially during end time prophecy. There is a reason for that people.
Good post.
I could use some prayer today. It's been a rough one.
I will pray for our new president, and I would have if John McCain won. I voted for Obama, and while I'm thrilled that he won, I would have been very happy for John McCain as well. The presidency is such a tough job. They need all of us to support them, regardless of party preference.
@LordofRogues@xanga -
Yeah...that's not hypocritical for you to say...not at all...
Except that it is.
@Fragrant_Offering@xanga - Very true about America being no where in the Bible. We are a great nation today, but that could change in an instant, and I personally believe we will not be a great nation (or possibly even a nation) at the end times.
@paoguy118@xanga - @LordofRogues@xanga - Prayer for someone is never a waste of time. Even if our request is answered with a no, prayer, communication with God is for our spiritual growth as well as for the person or situation we are praying for.
I will be praying, but I don't like Obama, I don't think he is a person of character, and I am concerned for our country and the direction it will now take. Do we need improvements in this country....yes....I just don't think we need the so called "improvements" that he wants to make.
Regardless, God is in control and this is obviously who He wants as our president. In some way, it will be ultimately bring glory to Him, but it may bring pain for us!
I couldn't agree with you more. But also the church has a history of thriving under persecution. I pray that is not what this president is meant to bring.
I am pleased with this election, however, I am disappointed that the results are continuing to keep our nation divided. It's a sad day when even Christians are not willing to pray for someone simply on the basis that they did not vote for that person.
Hopefully, we will all realize that through this, amongst many other things, God is teaching us to humble ourselves. I hope that this experience will teach all Americans, not just McCain supporters, to learn how to pray for someone that they do not like, someone that they do not support...
Also, I do not think that we, as Christians, should worry about the future of our country. As long as we have faith that God will provide each and every one of our needs, then why fret? I am not trying to say that we should not THINK about the future, I'm saying DON'T WORRY; our FATHER has everything taken care of. SO rejoice in the election of Obama for it is God's will.
Agreed. We can be sure that no matter how bad Obama might be, if we allow our hearts to be calloused against him, then we are really no better. Rather, if we stand for God's laws, love, and truth, we will overcome the harm that Obama is feared to bring to our nation. And if that is the case, remember that there is more to life than the life we live on earth. But as long as we are here, let us be the living light of God, showing that we will not succumb to pride and rebellion. We're smarter than that...if we'll just let ourselves be. :)
@paoguy118@xanga - We don't know all that God has done nor all that He will do. Just because nothing seemed to come of your prayers during Clinton's time doesn't mean that your prayers were useless. Rather, something deeper and unseen is going on. And,as I'm sure you believe, too, God is in control. It could be that God simply kept things from getting WORSE under Clinton. Who really knowns but God? Don't lose heart. Don't stop praying...even for our enemies...or our (disliked) new president.
And prayer you shall have. :)
@ByHisGrace - There are a lot of people on this site and others I know who are saying they WILL pray for him and our country so I'm not sure why you are lumping everyone who didn't vote for Obama into the same pile. And praying for him doesn't mean I will not speak up when I disagree with him and what ever it is that he is doing.
@sugartomyhoney@xanga - Perhaps you misunderstood what I am trying to say.I am saying that hopefully this will teach EVERYONE, not just McCain supporters, but EVERYONE, that they can pray for ANYONE that they may not like, support, etc...
My comment was directed not towards, you or any McCain supporter in general, but for any Christian who refuses to pray for someone that they do not like. My comment actually agrees with what you said, You don't like Obama but you are praying for him; That's good. That's exactly what we should do.
And I too will speak up if Obama says something that I disagree with.
I prayed for him before the election, and he won, so I'm overjoyed. I prayed for his win, because McCain is frightening, and Obama is the best choice to help recover our country and relieve our citizens.
And now, I will pray for him to the best job he can, and hope that he doesn't falter.
@LordofRogues@xanga - fantastic, sir, fantastic.
As a Canadian I've been praying for the election and for your government because it affects me and the world. I'm not pleased with the result - but God's Ways are Higher Than my Ways. God is the One who lifts up and brings down, He is the one who brings people into power .......no one can have any power without God's Will. And I believe that God has a plan for America and for the world - and if Obama is NOT His Child, He can still use this government for the good of those who love Him. God can turn ANY evil into good and for the furtherance of His Kingdom. And I pray that His Kingdom will come --- soon!
Great post, and you definitely brought up some good points. :)
our college has been talking about this nonstop- and im glad that there are people who agree to pray for their leaders.
Actually, this school year has been tough for me because of surgery(which results in drugs that keep you from concentrating in class). fBut for some reason though all this I think that God has been telling me that I needed to pray more.Everyone is just encouraging to pray and pray and pray.... it's amazing! It gives us the chance to rely more on Him than anyone else... and what will happen is already known.
Let's pray for our new leader of the United States :]
I'm entertained to see the results of me posting about what Obama's election means for RACE in this country... Some conservative Christians sent a wave of hate. It's sad.
http://weblog.xanga.com/chix0rgirl/681071973/what-barack-obama-means-to-me.html