Praying for the President

Below is Franklin Graham’s appeal to set aside June 2 as a “Special Day of Prayer for President Trump.” I’m not sure why a specific date is important or what supernatural power we should expect because a bunch of humans say prayers for a country’s leader. I suspect it’s more about generating political support, but here’s what Mr. Graham said. I’ve added annotations at the end of his two statements.

President Trump’s enemies continue to try everything to destroy him, his family, and the presidency. In the history of our country, no president has been attacked as he has. I believe the only hope for him, and this nation, is God. (annotation: Trump brings attacks on himself by continually asking for fights where none are needed, lying, insulting, name-calling, and demonstrating incompetence. Every president in my memory was attacked. President Trump is the only president who whines about it.)

This is a critical time for America. We’re on the edge of a precipice. Time is short. We need to pray for God to intervene. We need to ask God to protect, strengthen, encourage, and guide the president. (annotation: I agree with a portion of this statement, but we do not need God to strengthen this president. We need our president to recognize the three branches of government that share power and provide checks and balances to that power.)

I’m not opposed to praying for the president, but it seems like Franklin Graham is more interested in praying against President Trump’s critics and detractors than for the man. It was difficult, but I wrote the following that I can honestly say is a prayer for the president:

God, please change the president’s mind and help him move toward repentance for the evil and divisiveness he spreads through his words and actions. Soften his heart toward those who he perceives as enemies and threats.  Inspire him to read, listen, and learn. Lead him to turn from his practice of disrespecting our great American heroes and those who may disagree with him. Help him learn to honor and elevate what is best about our country. Help him find cabinet members and advisers who are competent, honest, and wise, those who can have a positive influence on his future actions and beliefs about the United States of America. Amen. 

I decided to share my prayer with Franklin Graham’s Facebook page. I thought the comments that showed up were puzzling and interesting. I’m pasting them below exactly as they were shown with names removed.