Prayers for the President

It’s Tuesday evening and I’m following the presidential and other national and local political races on the one television channel we have – Channel 27 WKOW and ABC. My family and I are at a relatively remote cottage off Curtis Lake in Marquette County. We are on a brief vacation – gratitude of our neighbor and church member who loaned us the use of their family cottage. The remoteness is beautiful, the lake serene, the weather is unbelievably warm (low to mid-70’s). We could not have asked for a better vacation spot to relax in after a very busy year at the church.

We are fortunate to have one television channel reception on which I am watching and listening to the race results. At this time it is 8:30 pm. Results are still coming in and while I have my suspicions I am not sure who will be our next United States president. Regardless, I am prayerfully hopeful the “right” president will be elected. “Right” means different things to different people. In light of our last eight years, the wars, the economy, and the overall confidence of the US people, I believe “right” boils down to a leader who can lead with an assuredness that will rejuvenate this country.

Regardless of who is successful there will be great challenges before the president. Our new president must have vision, be able to plan, react and pro-act effectively while reestablishing confidence in our country. Our new president must take great strides to renew our economy, address the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention Pakistan and North Korea. Beyond this, the American people need to have a renewed faith in the president. Our next president must be able to plan, strategize, command with confidence, and rebuild worldwide damaged relationships. The character of this president will be of primary concern. The news reporters are interviewing people in Ohio as I type this blog and many of the people are saying we need change.

Indeed we need change. And as of approximately 10:15 p.m. ABC has declared by electoral votes our new president elect to be Barack Obama. Can he fulfill the basis of his campaign promise to bring about positive and healthy change? Time will tell. This is a historic moment that will undoubtedly affect millions of lives in ways heretofore unexpected and perhaps un-thought of.

Tonight I pray that he will walk with God in his decisions. May he ask for God’s guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about the greater good – God’s good. May God’s hand of wisdom lie upon him bringing new insight, courage and fortitude to handle the challenges he will face. May God bless him and keep him strong in this most difficult journey and may he be blessed to be a blessing unto others. May the Light of Christ shine in perpetuity through this man as he chases the darkness from this land. As our faith and hope lie in Christ, may we once again regain our faith and hope in our president.