I got an email the other day asking me to pray for the President. No, that’s not exactly what I was asked to do. In short, I was asked to pray a blanket prayer that all the President’s programs pass and become law. Frankly, I was shocked.
I started paying attention to politics, Presidents, and other elected officials about the time John Kennedy competed against Richard Nixon to become President. That would have been 1960, and I was 11 years old. I remember sitting fascinated in front of our little black & white TV watching both the Democratic and Republican conventions, taking in speeches, and trying to figure it all out. I admit I didn’t understand everything I heard, but most of it wasn’t all that difficult. In the end, I was a John Kennedy fan. I did not like Nixon, then or ever. I remember sitting in study hall and hearing that Kennedy had been killed. I actually watched TV with some friends as Lee Harvey Oswald was dispatched by his own assassin. I have tried to keep up, listen, and generally stay on top of the major political events and more. I have often prayed for every President to hold the office since I was 11 years old.
But I have never prayed that any President get everything he wanted. I’ve never known one whose every program was a good one, or should have been passed into law. That includes President Obama. Sorry, but I’m not going to pray for things to become law that I don’t understand, agree with, or think would be the right thing to do.
Leave out for a moment the obvious things that probably produced such a request (health care and associated elements). I think abortion when the life of the mother is not endangered is murder. Obama supports abortion. I can’t, in good conscience, pray that his view on abortion be sustained. I’d like to see Roe V Wade reversed. Why mention this one? Because the request to pray for the President to get everything he wants came from a Christian. It’s that fact that stuns me. Are they asking me to pray in favor of abortion?
Will I pray for the President? I’ve been doing that, and will continue to do so. I pray for his health, stamina, and physical safety. I pray for him to be blessed with wisdom and integrity. I pray for his family. I pray that as President he work as a tool in God’s hands so that God’s will is done. Now if God wants something to happen that I disagree with, I hope God will ignore my disagreement and do what he wants. So, if I’m wrong in my opinion or ideas, I get it right when I ask for God’s will to potentially override mine. But to just ask that President Obama get everything he wants? Sorry. I haven’t prayed that way for any President since I knew we ought to pray for one, and I’m not about to start now.
Truthfully, I’d actually like for President Obama to lose some of the things he’s trying to put over on Americans. I don’t think they’re good for anybody. I think they are detrimental to the country. Those who asked me to blanket-pray that Obama get all he wants would have never prayed that for George Bush (or probably any other President). So why does Obama rate better than any other President?
I hope Mr. Obama turns out to be a good President. Honestly, I do. We need a good President. They’ve been in short supply. Prospects for the future don’t look all that bright. Mr. Obama has a real opportunity here. Does that mean he’s right on every point. Nope.
So, I suggest we pray for the President. Pray for the man and his family. Beyond that, I get very selective. It would be interesting to know if anyone really believes that any President ought to get every single one of the things he wants. Does anybody really believe that? Would you pray that way for a President who comes from a party other than yours?
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