Do I have to pray for Obama?
Prayer is a challenging thing. Here we have God's ear to share our thoughts, concerns, and desires with Him and we often either don't do it enough or completely forget! It's tragic because so much can be gained from a healthy prayer life.Most of the time, it's easier to pray for someone we care about such as our spouse, family or friends. But what about our leaders? Our boss, pastor, mayor, governor, and the President are some people we should remember in prayer.
1 Timothy 2:1–3 says "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior..."
Kings and all in authority...well, that pretty much covers it. But what if I don't agree with the government?
Romans 13 states, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God...This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Ok, fine, I'll pray for my leaders...but not Barack Obama. Nope, not gonna do it.
Luke 6: 27-31 says “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. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
We don't have the luxury of praying only for people we like or only people who think like us. Loving our enemies is praying for them and interceding for them. Perhaps "enemy" is a strong word but it fits the bill on someone you dislike.
So, how can you pray for President Obama? Feel free to choose any of the prayer suggestions below and add them to a calendar or other means of devotional recording.
Romans 13 states, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God...This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Ok, fine, I'll pray for my leaders...but not Barack Obama. Nope, not gonna do it.
Luke 6: 27-31 says “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. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
We don't have the luxury of praying only for people we like or only people who think like us. Loving our enemies is praying for them and interceding for them. Perhaps "enemy" is a strong word but it fits the bill on someone you dislike.
So, how can you pray for President Obama? Feel free to choose any of the prayer suggestions below and add them to a calendar or other means of devotional recording.
- Pray President Obama will seek God's Will for himself, his family, his administration, and America.
- Pray President Obama is open to the Holy Spirit's teaching and guidance.
- Pray for ever-increasing knowledge of God.
- Pray for President Obama's work to be the best.
- Pray President Obama is sensitive to God’s voice, has spiritual ears, and a willing heart.
- Pray President Obama stays far from gossip, deceit, or unbelief.
- Pray God gives President Obama a spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, strength, and obedient and reverent fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
- Pray for keen discernment between God’s wisdom and human wisdom.
- Pray for pure motives, purged by God through the Word and President Obama's personal prayer time.
- Pray for discernment against impure motives.
- Pray God leads and directs President Obama's paths.
- Pray for divine health—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
- Pray for all effects of tiredness and discouragement to be loosed from President Obama's mind and body.
- Pray for fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Pray for total submission to the Lord in every aspect of life.
- Pray for a spirit of unity, not competition; humility, not superiority; cooperation, not defensiveness.
- Pray President Obama pursues righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
- Pray President Obama feeds daily on the Word of God and maintains a faithful prayer life.
- Pray God sends angels to guard President Obama, his family, and property, puts a hedge of protection around all that's going in, coming out, the air above, and the ground below.
- Pray the angels go before President Obama and do battle in his behalf.
- Pray God foils all attacks and traps of the enemy.
- Pray against all occult activity—curses, witchcraft divination, sorcery.
- Pray the Lord causes President Obama to abound in prosperity—body, soul, and spirit.
- Thank God for providing all the needs—personal, family, ministry.
- Pray President Obama will be a wise steward of time and be disciplined.
- Pray President Obama's relationship with God is the top priority.
- Pray for unity and understanding among the family members.
- Pray there's no resentment when sacrifice is required.
- Pray God meets President Obama's emotional needs.
- Pray President Obama spends quality time with his family—both leisure time and spiritual time.
- Pray the family discerns each other’s needs—emotional, physical, material, and spiritual.
- Pray President Obama overcomes pressures and stress.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRAYER LIST FOR OUR PRESIDENT. WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING ALONG THESE LINES SINCE HIS ELECTION AND THANK GOD FOR HEARING THEM AND ANSWERING THEM. ALOHA FROM JASON AND LINDA IZUMI FROM KONA, HAWAII.
Pray for Obama Psalms 109:8
After the election, the Lord reminded me that at the time I Timothy 2:1-3 was written the Caesars were in power. Hopefully, we as Christians won't face the persecution that our brethren did under the Caesars. Even if we do, we are commanded to pray for those in authority. Who knows...our prayers may help bring them to a knowledge of the Lord. Love, not hate, is the hallmark of Christianity. It's hard for me to pray for Obama, but I'm working on it ;-)
Anonymous 3, thanks for stopping by! You are spot on! We are called to pray and by that are being obedient. God can change hearts and more than we expected if we humble ourselves. God bless you and yours.