A Prayer For The Week Of The Inauguration

 

Lord, God Almighty, the God of history, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, what a historic week this has been for our nation, as the first African American took the oath of office of  the President of the United States of America.  Is it possible his election was not just another election where people have said, we got what we deserve, but an election which fulfills the words of the apostle Paul when he wrote: “For there is no authority except that which God has established.”  To be sure some presidents have served because of Your permissive will, but few are those who have been chosen and anointed by You to be that person whom You have prepared and called at a particular time and for a particular reason.    Grant that history may prove this to be the case  in the inauguration of President Barach Obama.  The way in which our country and the world have greeted this inauguration would surely lead us to believe that this historic event is not in spite of Your will but by Your will.  Few are the times when our nation has been more excited with their new president.  Few are the times when it has been as united as it is at this particular time.  And most of all, few are the times when the world has seen us as accepting, forgiving and caring as it does at this time.  Our willingness to be led by one of another color of skin, one who has not been a long time member of the political establishment and one who will take a different approach to solving many of the problems we face,  has led many to believe that he is our hope for a better tomorrow.

 

Father God, our most recent historic occasion of this magnitude was the day when a foreign nation chose to bomb our warships in Pearl Harbor.  That day was fittingly called “a day of infamy.”  Grant O merciful God, that this past Tuesday may be declared by historians to be “a day of reputability.”   A day when we repented of the sins of the past, a day when we gave the world reason to believe that we as a nation are worthy of their   trust, their respect and their support.

 

We commit ourselves to  praying for our president, Obama.  When his leadership is met with criticism and countered with harsh words, may he remember You.  When his visions are blurred and his hopes are weakened, may he remember You.  When the warmth of his best intentions face the heat of unmet expectations, may he remember You.  When his energy is spent, his direction confused and his faith wounded, may he remember You.  Yes Lord, and when everything he does falls neatly into place with generous approval and praise, may he remember You.

 

This is our prayer today, in the name of the King of Kings, the Ruler of Rulers, the Savior of the world.

 

Amen