God of Glory, King of Kings, the psalmist sings that you set the prisoners free, open the eyes of the blind, lift up those who are bowed down, love the righteous, watch over strangers, and uphold the orphan and the widow. You execute justice for the oppressed and give food to the hungry (Psalm 146:7-9). Help Mr. Trump align his leadership skills with the actions you value. Amen 1.28.17
Dearest Lord, you know that leading people is not easy. Give Mr. Trump the strength he needs to lead rather than manage, to guide rather than goad, and to seek your will rather than push personal agendas. Amen 2.1.17
Wondrous God, it is so easy for humans to try to usurp your place as center of the universe. Help Mr. Trump to be aware of this temptation. Give him strength and wisdom to realize this. Amen 2.7.17
“Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight” says the song some children learned in Sunday School. Teach this song to Mr. Trump so he sings it in his soul and lives it in his decisions. Amen 2.11.17
God of the Lost and Forgotten, nudge Mr. Trump to care for those who are invisible in our world. Help him see those who others ignore. Help him to be a change agent for good for those who are so often forgotten. Amen 2.17.17
Master of the Universe, there are so many voices telling Mr. Trump what to do. Help him to learn to listen for your small voice that whispers to him the real way for life. Amen 2.21.17
God Who Became Human, instill in Mr. Trump a sense of his own humanity. Let him embrace his vulnerability so it becomes a strength, not a liability. Amen 2.26.17
Holy One, be with Mr. Trump when he feels confused or scared in his innermost being. Give him strength to stand tall and not flail about, floundering for the next step. Amen 3.5.17
God of History, may the history that Mr. Trump is making bring us closer to the world you envision for us where mourning and crying and pain will be no more. Amen 3.11.17
God of Truth, it is easy to live in a bubble created by where one lives. And yet, you chose to live amidst us as a human being, suffering with us, laughing with us, and experiencing life in its rawness. Help Mr. Trump to be a man of the Earth. Amen 3.15.17
Background of the Project: As I was thinking about the massive changes occurring in our country with even more to come, I thought about what I could do. I’ve received notices about getting involved with various organizations that will work for certain issues that might be negatively affected with the new administration. I’ve thought about trying to ignore all the news about Donald Trump but that’s rather hard to do. Then the amazing holy light bulb went off. I could pray for Mr. Trump and I could invite others to pray for him also. The prayers would not be about specific pet projects or agendas facing our nation or groups of people I care about. They would not be about particular legislation. The prayers would be about the man, lifted up to God, and trusted into God’s wisdom and grace. If I truly believe in the gospel news, then prayer is where we each should start…not as a last resort but as a first.
I’ll post a prayer several times a week at first. I invite you to join in this prayer vigil for Mr. Trump. Please add your own prayers. They do not have to be long or even especially well written. They just have to be honest.