5 Powerful Prayers to Pray over President Trump

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

If we want to lead a quiet and peaceable life, then we need to pray for protection over our president. Never is a country more vulnerable than when its leader is threatened or dies. In the workplace, if management changes hands suddenly, then fear and anxiety runs rampant throughout the business. I once worked in a place that involved a merger, which led to a power struggle in its ranks. There was constant turmoil which affected employees’ ability to do their jobs effectively, and it caused the business to be less productive and profitable. The same is true with our country. Beyond the biblical call to pray for our president’s protection, it is also in our own best interest if we want to lead quiet and peaceable lives.

Father God, I pray your protection over President Trump. You allowed him to be placed in office by your will, so I pray that you will be a shield around him and his family as he leads this country forward. Go before him and behind him, encircle him so that he feels your presence and remembers who brought him to this position. Give courage and strength to those who watch over him. Turn the enemy’s plans to nothing as I lift our leader and his family into your powerful hands. Amen.

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"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

I recently heard this definition: Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, it is thinking about ourselves less. If we go into any situation concerned about those around us instead of focusing on ourselves, we can make a difference in this world. I remember riding the train in Seoul, South Korea where I was teaching English, and an elderly woman with a cane got on the packed car. The woman stood in front of a teenager who was sitting down, but he didn’t move. I got up, and let the older lady have my seat. She smiled and sat down and when the teenager got off at the next stop, she patted the seat for me to sit down. Americans often have a reputation for being selfish, so even a small act of kindness can make an impression. Christians have gotten a bad reputation in this world, so we should be even more conscious of being Christlike ambassadors.

Whenever we are given a place of power, no matter how big or small, we are in a place to be tempted to fulfill selfish and usually sinful desires. The same is true of the role of the President of the United States. This is why we must pray for humility for ourselves and for our leaders. When we remember who brought us to where we are, then we can be a force for good in the world.

God, your word tells us that you resist the proud and give grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), so I pray that you would foster a sense of true humility in President Trump. Open his eyes to the people around him and his responsibilities to them as president so that he will look to You for strength and guidance. 

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"Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14)

Part of humility is recognizing that we cannot do it all on our own. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives, and good counsel is especially important. I know I have gone to my friends, parents, teachers, and pastors for help, but the greatest counselor is the Holy Spirit. When I was deciding if I would take the missionary assignment in Seoul, South Korea, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would show me what to do. The day I got my letter I went into my bedroom and picked up my daily Bible reading. Part of my reticence to accept the position was that I had applied for Kenya, which was a shorter assignment. The Korean assignment was for two years, which seemed like a long time to me. I opened my Bible to the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, and it said Joseph was in prison two years. Now, don’t get me wrong, I did not think of my assignment as prison, but I knew God was telling me that he wanted me to take the longer assignment, and it was some of the best years of my life thus far.

The position of President of the United Sates holds power, but it also holds a lot of responsibility. Trying to run a nation is a difficult job with many different facets to consider, so it requires multiple advisers coming to an agreement on decisions. We need to pray not only for the president but also all of the people surrounding him; otherwise, we will all suffer the consequences.

Father, I pray that you will give President Trump a willingness to humble himself and listen to advisers. I pray that you will surround him with good counselors who speak the words of truth. Send your Holy Spirit to speak to him, counsel him, and comfort him. Open his ears to hear your word and your guidance as he leads this country into the future. Amen

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"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9)

Solomon, one of the most famous kings in history, knew he could not lead the people on his own. He asked God for discernment between good and evil. Discernment is needed just as much today, if not more, than in Solomon’s day. Besides good counsel, a president needs to be able to discern good from evil as he makes choices every single day.

I ask for the Lord’s discernment on things great and small in my life. I ask for discernment regarding what house or car to buy, when to buy it, and how to pay for it. I once rushed to cash money out of my retirement fund to pay for an unexpected house repair instead of praying for discernment. In the end, I had to pay not only the fine for pulling money early, but also more taxes to the IRS that snowballed into an even bigger problem. If I had stopped to ask for discernment and waited for God’s solution, things would have gone much better in the long run.

Father, I pray that President Trump will have discernment between good and evil for issues great and small. I pray that he will patiently wait for your guidance and that you will put people around him who also have discernment. Help him to have the courage and strength to make the right choices every day. Amen.

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"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling." (Ps. 2:10-11)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)

Wisdom is knowing how to apply to an action the information and discernment that you have received. To be wise is to follow the Lord’s leading every day. When we follow our own paths, we often find ourselves in dangerous situations or so far from our original path that we are lost.

One night on vacation in Maine, we were coming through a wilderness area later than planned. In the darkness, we missed our exit but didn’t realize it for a while. It ended up taking nearly an hour longer to get to our destination. One lapse in focus and we were driving through a place with no lights, exits, or traffic. If we had run out of gas, we would have been in serious trouble because even if we had had cell phones, there was probably no service.

The president also needs to stay focused on the paths he chooses, so he doesn’t go down the wrong path. Only God knows what lies ahead for our country, and only God can lead us in the right direction.

Father, help President Trump see your ways and follow your paths. Guide him as he makes choices and decisions. Give him Your wisdom that comes from above and block out the noise that surrounds him. Help him to hear your voice even in the darkest nights or toughest days. Amen.

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