Pray For President Obama

The following post was written by Jeff Leake, Lead Pastor at Allison Park Church.

Focus Verse:  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  1 Peter 2:17

Application: One of the the principles that the Bible teaches has to do with RESPECT for authority.  The root of this principle is found in the 10 Commandments.  The 5th Commandment tells us to HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER and when you do...’it will go well with you, and you will live a long and prosperous life.’

When we honor our leaders we honor the POSITION they hold first and foremost. We don’t have to like them as a person.  We may disagree with their policies.  But nonetheless, the command of the Scripture is to HONOR THE KING.  In fact, this is quite a solid list that Peter gives to us:

• Show RESPECT to everyone. Disrespect is never appropriate.
• LOVE the BROTHERHOOD OF BELIEVERS. As Christ-followers, we are to invest in the people of God (His church) because the church is so precious to the heart of God.
• FEAR GOD – Remember that he is aware of all we do and say.  We need to live with a respect for his presence.  Don’t speak out of turn.  Be angry…but sin not.  Bless.  Don’t Curse.  Speak in faith, not in fear.
• HONOR the KING – no matter who he/she is, or what party they represent.  Honor them for the position that they have.

This is such an important step for much of the church world today.  Because so many believers are frustrated with that is happening in our country economically, spiritually, and politically.  Fear is in the air.  Anger often rules the day.  Both sides of the political aisle rage at and slander one another.

We need to be reminded again that…

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.  For the anger of man DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH the righteous life that God desires.  James 1:19-20

But I tell you who hear me:  Love your enemies.    Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you.  Pray for those who mistreat you.  Luke 6:27

Nothing of lasting value happens when we give in to fear, when we try to bring change through anger, or when we love only our friends and choose to respond negatively toward those with whom we disagree.  But amazing things happen when instead, WE CHOOSE TO PRAY.

For this reason, I believe one of the most important things that we can do together right now, is pray daily for President Obama. We need to pray for him that God gives him wisdom to lead.  We need to pray for him that God accomplishes His Will for our President’s life and for the life of this nation.  We need to pray that God gives him wise counsel and godly advisers.  We need to bless him and choose to speak well of him.

And as we do that, we are working with God to support and touch his life as he occupies this most challenging position.  We also build faith and compassion into our own hearts instead of fear, anger, and frustration. Praying for our president also unites the BROTHERHOOD of BELIEVERS, because the body of Christ is filled with people of very different political views. Some love the President’s policies and are thrilled with the direction of our country.  Others loath the policies and are extremely concerned about the direction of our country.  Many are in the middle and feel conflicted, proud, concerned, and hopeful all at the same time.

What can unite us all is the decision to pray.

Prayer Focus: O God, we pray that you would bless our President of these United States.  We pray that you would prosper him and give him health, and that you would make his soul to prosper. May President Obama come to understand in greater ways the love and reality of a risen Jesus.  May you grant him wisdom, salvation, strength, and clarity of thought.  May you surround him with wise and godly counsel.

We pray that you would strengthen the cause of the Kingdom of God through his leadership at the G20 Summit. We pray that you would help him to lead with a balance of justice and compassion, righteousness and mercy.  We ask that you would protect him physically and place a hedge of protection around he and his family.

We honor him as our president.  Forgive us for any words of anger, cursing, or slander. We ask that as we honor him, you would unite the body of Christ, heal our divisions, and bring about Your purpose on the earth.   In JESUS NAME, AMEN.