How Can I Pray for a President with Which I Disagree…?

I cannot possibly agree with the new president of the United States in the areas of marriage, abortion/life, socialistic federally controlled economy, and national security that pardons terrorists.  Though I cannot agree with him, can I pray for him?  The answer is yes…sort of.

 

I will continue to pray for him based on 1Timothy 2:1-7.  ”Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ^for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ^ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ^who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”

 But, since this passage is about praying for our leaders in such a way that the Gospel is more freely spread, I will pray that President Obama will come to a true, saving faith in Jesus Christ.  I pray that this true, growing, saving faith would cause him to lead, make decisions, and direct our nation out of a heart to glorify God.  I’ll pray that the president’s life would be so radically changed by the Gospel that his priorities begin to be eternal rather than temporal. 

Meanwhile, if he continues in the direction he has begun, I MUST pray that he fails in his efforts.  I MUST pray that he fails in efforts to make abortion on demand more available and reinforce the culture of death rather than life.  I MUST pray that he fails in his efforts to make America an increasingly socialist nation.  I MUST pray that he fails in his efforts to provide leadership in redefining marriage and the traditional family.  I MUST pray that he fails in his efforts to release known terrorists and embolden the enemies of the United States of America who radically serve a false god.

If he were to completely change in his efforts in such a way that he might be in line with Scripture, then I will pray for his success.  Otherwise, I MUST pray that he fails.  How can any person, whose life has been given to Christ, pray that a leader succeeds whose philosophies on so many social issues are at odds with truth?  God forbid we should sell out truth for political correctness! 

Can you envision John the Baptist praying for Herod to succeed in his immoral efforts? 

 

Can you envision Paul praying for Nero to succeed in propagating emperor worship?

 

Can you envision John the Revelator praying that the Caesar would succeed in stamping out Christianity?

 

I love my God and I love my country.  I desperately want the president to succeed in making this country what it was originally founded to be.  Yet, when his policies mean that life is devalued, marriage is redefined, and justice has no absolute rule of law…I MUST PRAY THAT HE FAILS!