WWHIYP For the President . . . Revisited

Even if you don't agree, pray. God's Word does not give us a choice in the matter. We are not asked to pray for our leaders; we are told to pray for our leaders. Our opinions don't matter here. You don't have to agree with your leaders to pray for them. Pray that God's will is done in their lives. Praying for our leaders, namely the president, is bigger than we are.

Let's talk about a man who has authority over hundreds of millions of people and influences the entire world. Now tell me, dear Christian, is it better to criticize him or pray for him?

Have no doubt that God can use President Obama for His glory. Look at how God used leaders of nations, even those who did not know Him.

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: Genesis 41:25 NKJV

But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Daniel 2:28a NKJV

In these two cases, God gave the leaders of Egypt and Babylon a dream about the future. Neither of them was considered a man of God, but God honored their positions as leaders.

Many years later, Isaiah prophesied about a king whom God would use even though this king would not acknowledge God.

         ¹ “Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
      To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
      To subdue nations before him
      And loose the armor of kings,
      To open before him the double doors,
      So that the gates will not be shut:
       ² ‘ I will go before you
      And make the crooked places straight;
      I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
      And cut the bars of iron.
       ³ I will give you the treasures of darkness
      And hidden riches of secret places,
      That you may know that I, the LORD,
      Who call you by your name,
      Am the God of Israel.
       ⁴ For Jacob My servant’s sake,
      And Israel My elect,
      I have even called you by your name;
      I have named you, though you have not known Me.
       ⁵ I am the LORD, and there is no other;
      There is no God besides Me.
      I will gird you, though you have not known Me,                         Isaiah 45:1-5 NKJV  

God called this king "anointed." God called the king by name, Cyrus, even though he wouldn't be born for another hundred years or so.  God told this unbelieving king, I have held your hand to win battles. I've called you for the sake of My people.

God can use whomever He pleases. Maybe He has a plan such as this for President Obama. To the people who did not believe that God could use an ungodly king He says,

 ⁹ “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,
   to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
   ‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
   ‘He has no hands’?
¹⁰ Woe to him who says to his father,
   ‘What have you begotten?’
or to his mother,
   ‘What have you brought to birth?’

 ¹¹ “This is what the LORD says—
   the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Concerning things to come,
   do you question me about my children,
   or give me orders about the work of my hands?
¹² It is I who made the earth
   and created mankind upon it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;
   I marshaled their starry hosts.
¹³ I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness:
   I will make all his ways straight.
He will rebuild my city
   and set my exiles free,
but not for a price or reward,
   says the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah 45:9-13 NIV

I believe the same God can use democrats, republicans, independents, tea party. What difference does that label make to Almighty God? Dare we question whom God uses? Instead, let's trust Him and pray: Your kingdom come; Your will be done in the President's life. That way we are sure that we are agreeing with God. But wait, there's more: if you act right now and pray for the president, you won't want to criticize. We are to bless people and not curse them. So if we are truly praying for President Obama from the heart and according to God's will, we'll be blessers instead of a complainers/criticizers.  What would happen if you prayed for the president? We put our trust in God that He can do His will in the president's life.

Pray with me:

Father, You are so amazing. You can use anyone. Your Word declares that The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Thank You, Sovereign Lord. Clearly, You reign. Clearly, You are in control. I have seen in Your Word that You can give dreams of a nation's future to national leaders. I have seen in Your Word how You can anoint a leader, who does not acknowledge You, to bless Your people. You are the potter; You can make and do whatever You want with what You have created. I dare not judge. But I bless President Obama. I pray that You open his eyes to recognize that You can use him. I pray that he will put his confidence in his creator and not in his own ability. Bless him and his family with peace. Protect them from harm. He campaigned on a platform of hope. Bless him to know that You are our only hope. Bless him to know truth and wisdom. I pray that President Obama will be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. I pray that he will walk worthy of You, Lord, fully pleasing You and being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Colossians 1:9-11) May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in President Obama's life. I ask that You would stir up the body of Christ to pray for the president and other leaders. Help us to realize that our prayers can change the course of our future. Praise You, Father. You are the One who hears and responds. Thank You that I can come to You in Jesus' name. Amen.