This is how I felt. Up until today. I did not vote for Obama, and I cried on election night. It's not that I didn't appreciate the historic significance of the day, but the color of a President's skin is no more important to me than any other American's skin. What's important to me is what he believes, and what kind of impact his views will have on our great nation. I actually told my husband, "I cannot pray for Obama. I just don't like him."
But today, my heart was changed. My pastor started his sermon today with the proclamation that "to not pray for our President is to rebel against God's word." OUCH! This is what he said:
'According to Romans 13:1-7, our President is God's minister to us for good. This applies to all Christians, under all forms of government, whether they are godly or godless. At the time Paul wrote this, there were no democracies in existence. So whether I agree with the President's policies, I must still honor his position of authority.
Don't we want our President to use wisdom as he governs, picks his cabinet, passes laws, etc? How can that happen if we are not praying for him? We can disagree with his politics and still ask God to give him moral courage.
1 Peter 2:13 says that we are to "submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king, as supreme..." and in my J0hn MacArthur study Bible he explains: "As citizens in the world and under civil law and authority, God's people are to live in a humble, submissive way in the midst of any hostile, godless, slandering society."
Our Pastor went on to say that we need to pray for Obama to have a heart to be open to do what is right. 1 Timothy 2:1 says that we are to pray for those in authority so that we can have peace in our land.'
I love my country. I do want peace in our land. And I don't want to rebel against God. So I will pray for our President. Thank you, Pastor Ray.
God Bless America,