President Asks for Prayer – Why Would Any Believer Decline that Request?

Surge Summary: President Trump has specifically asked for prayer for those battling against coronavirus and for the families of those who have succumbed to the disease. It’s time for all who believe in God and the power of prayer to respond by crying out to Him at this time of national/international crisis – be they Trump fans or Trump foes.

Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump, when the leader of a nation openly requests his constituents pray, as he did over the weekend … well, that’s kind of a big deal. It would be passing strange indeed for anyone claiming to believe in intercession’s efficacy to refuse a request like that.

Such a perplexing response wouldn’t be without precedent, mind you. Ten months ago, controversy erupted when Donald Trump unexpectedly dropped into a Vienna, VA Bible Church’s Sunday morning service, and the pastor obliged by leading the assembled in a public prayer for him. Yes, you know where this is going, don’t you: some of the congregation vocally objected.

They don’t agree with President Trump’s policies …  so they didn’t want to pray for him?

They don’t like the way he routinely conducts himself … so they snub a chance to ask God to move in his life and guide him?

Really …

Gary Bauer relays the details of the Chief Executive’s most recent prayer solicitation:

During [Sunday’s] White House press briefing, President Trump asked Americans to pray for our nation, those grieving loved ones and those most impacted by the crisis.  Here are excerpts of the president’s remarks:

“While we may be apart from one another . . . we can use this time to turn in prayer in our own personal relationship with God.  I would ask that all Americans pray for the heroic doctors and nurses, for the truck drivers and grocery store workers, and for everyone fighting this battle.

“I had mentioned yesterday where I see the nurses rushing into hospitals, and they’re putting on their outfits and they’re putting on their masks and goggles in some cases. They’re rushing into war. . .  They’re warriors. . . They’re putting all this stuff on and running inside . . . to tremendous danger.

“But most of all, I’d like to ask for your prayers, for the families who have lost loved ones. Ask God to comfort them in their hour of grief.  It’s a great hour of grief for our nation, for the world. . .

“With the faith of our families and the spirit of our people and the grace of our God, we will endure, we will overcome, we will prevail. We have learned so much. We will be stronger than ever, and I just want to thank everybody.”

I think it would be a fantastic idea if churches across the country rang their bells at particular times over Holy Week to signal hope and renewal to the American people.

NB: Although obstreperous, anti-Trump prayer-objectors doubtless remain, perhaps this time around they’ll budge since nobody here is suggesting they lift a word heavenward for the man himself – rather, only for those endangered by the pestilence; and who’ve lost loved one in its wake.

Any authentic follower of Jesus Christ, pro-Trump or otherwise, needs to hit the pause button on their political preferences and ask God to touch those who are needy or hurting in this nearly unprecedented health and economic calamity.

Even if it was Donald Trump who extended the plea.

H/T: Gary Bauer

The views here are those of the author and not necessarily Daily Surge.

Image: Adapted from: The White House from Washington, DC – National Day of Prayer, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78669119