Prayers for President Barak Obama
It is all but official that Senator Barak Obama has captured the status of President-elect of the United States of America. He will be our country’s first black President, and will no doubt make a mark on our history. Politics aside. I feel good from one perspective. Our country has risen above it’s racist history. Electing a black man to the Presidency may not solve all the existing racial ills we still endure, but it does prove that we have overcome many of our obstacles.
What do we do now? Already, I’ve began teaching my oldest daughter, Phoebe, that even though I don’t agree with everything President Obama will do, she will never hear me speak ill of him. All Christians should take this opportunity to offer focused prayers of salvation for our President. He claims to be a Christian, but what President hasn’t? I’m not saying he’s lying, but how could those prayers possibly harm him?
Secondly, we need to immediately begin praying for his safety and that any and all plots to bring harm to him or his family will be revealed before they can be carried out. We know that already an assassination plot in Tennessee was uncovered. Being the first black President surely won’t come without a few nut jobs who want to kill you.
And finally pray that God will invest wisdom in him. Barak Obama is going to need wisdom that comes from on high; the heavenly wisdom which only God bestows. Pray that he will seek that wisdom. We are still a highly divided nation. Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, vague and weird third parties; we are far from being united on many issues. President Obama will need Godly wisdom to succeed.
I did not vote for Barak Obama. I do not agree with many of the things he wants to accomplish. But he will be the President. As those who voted for McCain, we should outshine those who voted for Al Gore in 2000 and for John Kerry in 2004. Let our humility mark us as Christians. Don’t do as they did and disown the man who God has empowered. You don’t have to agree with him. But for the sake of the name of Christ and His glory among the nations, do not abandon him. He will be my President. And I will pray for him.
6 comments
Great job, Shane. I too do not agree with him, but speaking ill of him directly reflects my King and I will bring Him no shame. I do and will pray for President Obama, but I fear that he will not seek the wisdom of the One True God.
He ultimately may not. But we would be remiss if we did not pray for him to do so.
Good words Shane. I have been praying through how to give a pastoral response to people in regards to this, but you did a great job. There are few other blogs that have gotten my attention on this issue:
http://theologica.blogspot.com/
http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/the-latest-post/2008/11/4/president-elect-obama.html
http://timmybrister.com/2008/11/05/the-change-we-need/
They pretty much sum up what I have been pondering, but I still need to process this issue and be above reproach in how I speak about our new president. I need to learn the balance of having one foot in the “City of Man” while the other foot in the “City of God”
Thanks Shane for your comments.
well said shane. well said.
Wise words Shane. I read your stuff quite often. I always knew from our childhood that you are a very smart person. Keep up the good work that you are doing. No doubt you are making a difference where you are.
Also, wanted to let you know that those “nut jobs” from Tennessee live only about 15-20 minutes from Jackson. Not exactly the way West Tennessee wanted to make the news. Kinda took over the local news broadcasts for a week or so. I, like most people from Tennessee, voted for McCain. However, I by no means wish any harm on our leaders, current or future.
I’ll talk to you soon.
Yep, I agree. While we love to debate in our household, we can do so in a manner in which our Lord favors. While we point out facts about Obama’s voting record, beliefs, and publically-expressed stance on the issues, which greatly differ from our own, there is no reason to speak ill of him. We certainly do not wish him harm.
As our president, he will face many challenges when he takes office. I pray he will deal with them in a Godly manner.
I just wish the celebrity “hype” would die down. America is looking for a hero. Instead of finding their hero in Christ, they are building up an untested, unproven man.