Just a reminder, now

First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,
For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

For such is good and right, and pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

I Timothy 2:1-4

No matter who our leaders are, no matter what party they’re of, we’re supposed to pray for them. This includes George Bush (you’ll recall I was furious with him at more than a few points in eight years), it includes Barack Obama, it includes all of those in authority over us. A few years ago, when Nancy Pelosi ascended, I wrote a post about this; in fact, it’s 2 years and one month to the day, nearly to the minute, since I wrote that. Many people did not like it, because I named her specifically as someone for whom we ought to pray, daily. No matter. You’re not disagreeing with me, you’re disagreeing and even flaunting the word of God Himself when you belligerently refuse to pray for our leaders, whether it’s a president, mayor or boss.

Furthermore, please note that Paul writes to Timothy, “First of all…”. We’re to pray for others first, not ourselves; moreover, we’re to pray for “kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility”. Is Barack Obama not in a position both of immense power, but also tremendous responsibility? The presidency of the United States is a rather undesirable job (to normal persons) at any time, but most especially now, when we’re unsure about what is ahead. Remember, too, that when we obey God…Well, we’re obeying God. Being in line with His plan and law for our life is reward enough, but He always blesses His children when they obey him.

What can we pray for President Obama? Some folks may have such distaste for him, nothing positive will come to mind. So, here’s how I tend to pray for our leaders: First of all, obviously, for protection for the man himself and his family, especially any children. That’s always the first thing I pray in regards to a President. Additionally, it seems to me that we should pray that God give the President wisdom, discernment, and the boldness to act on such things, even if they fly in the face of his party’s line or even his own ideals and desires.

For President Obama, whose voting record and words indicate things we prefer not to happen as he moves forward in his misguided and bound to fail attempt at bringing Heaven to earth, perhaps we should pray that God open his heart and mind in such areas, so that he is willing to hear and consider alternate ideas, no matter what quarter they come from.

Lastly (kind of), we should pray that our President have wise, thoughtful advisors, who will also be blessed with wisdom and discernment. Barack Obama will probably not have time to sit down and read all of the white papers, look at all the intelligence, and square it up in his mind; that’s why he has advisors. Therefore, they too need our prayer (so, yes, y’all have to pray for Hillary Clinton too). Should God lead you to pray anything else, anything at all, then do it.

That’s usually how I start: pretty basic and simple things, things we’d pray for ourselves, no doubt. This doesn’t mean we can’t criticize the president, certainly, but we should do our best to be respectful.

That said, if you are so enraged that you can’t pray anything nice at all, please at least pray that God protect Mr. Obama, his wife, and his two little girls from harm. This small duty, one that, at the very least, we owe to God Himself. He has allowed Barack Obama to become president. Presumably, the Almighty knows what He is doing; furthermore, it seems safe to say that God will provide for His own at all times, no matter who is in charge (or wants to be) of nation from an earthly perspective.

Finally, remember these comforting words, ideally in concert with the Exodus story and the verses regarding God’s hand and the heart of Pharaoh:

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He wills.

Proverbs 21:1

And if you are really, really depressed, your eyes are on the wrong things. May I (humbly, I hope) suggest you read this post, and my “Housecleaning During a Hurricane” series (just three parts), and perhaps even keep this prayer of King Jehoshaphat’s, from a time worse than our own, before you as a reminder:

O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.

Did not You, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? They dwelt in it and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your Name, saying, If evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You–for Your Name [and the symbol of Your presence] is in this house–and cry to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.

And now behold, the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they turned from and did not destroy–Behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.

O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.

II Chronicles 20:6-12