This past Tuesday, the result of the American privilege of voting was an overwhelming victory for the election of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Our new President-Elect Obama deserves our highest prayer and support at this time. As born-again Christians, we are charged from the Scripture with some challenging words:

May the name of God be praised forever and ever,for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (Daniel 2:20-21 HCSB)

This is a season to praise the Lord of Heaven. He has given America a new leader, President-Elect Barack Obama. It is the Lord who places kings in authority, awarding some with favor, and others he chooses to remove.

God is calling us to trust Him. Many of you may have all kinds of feelings concerning this election. Regardless of those feelings, it is time to trust the Lord. God is doing something. We must understand the Lord is working powerfully, and this is a moment for His people to trust Him and rely on His Word, while at the same time fulfilling the Scripture in 1 Timothy 2:1-2

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 HCSB)

Yes, God is also calling us to pray for our new President-Elect Obama. How should we pray? Let me suggest:

Pray for:

• President-Elect Obama and family as they grieve the loss of his grandmother, the most influential person in his life.
• President-Elect Obama and family as they prepare to embrace this new challenge of being the First Family, not only of America, but the world.
• President-Elect Obama as he begins decision-making concerning his Presidential Cabinet, as well as other major decisions.
• President-Elect Obama and President George W. Bush as they work together towards this enormous transition of power in this critical hour that will occur on January 20th.
• President-Elect Obama and his wife, Michelle, as well as Vice-President Elect Joseph Biden and his wife Jill, for their physical safety and health, as well as the wisdom needed to make decisions that will lead us to abide in a peaceful and quiet life.

These are just a few things we can pray for relating to President-Elect Barack Obama. Just as I prayed for President George W. Bush and his family daily, I will do so for our future President Obama. It is not only my responsibility, but my joy to pray for him.

History was made on Tuesday, November 4th. America now has its first African-American President. As a child, I can remember sitting in front of a black and white television set with my parents, listening to Martin Luther King Jr. give his famous speech in Washington D. C. The election of President-Elect Obama is an historical moment for every American and is a fulfillment not only of the dream of Martin Luther King, but many other great leaders of the past in American history.

Finally, it is time to come together as a nation, just as I have been challenging us weekly. We are in a global crisis, and this is no time to fight with fellow-Americans. It is time to join together and work together towards a common solution. Yes, disagreement can happen and will happen over various and significant issues that may be opposed to the Word of God, but let’s wait and see what happens, as well as how we are led by our future President and his team.

The great thing about America is, there is a way to disagree with leadership and direction; however, if we need to do so, it needs to be done in the highest and most godly manner. Christians need to be known as loving, conciliatory, prayerful, and godly people. We must speak the truth in love.

I close with the words of Job that he expressed to God after all of his tribulation and problems in his life, from the loss of his children, his wealth, his reputation, and status in life. Here are his words:

I know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted.
(Job 42:2 HCSB)

God has a plan. He is sitting on the Throne in Heaven. He is in complete control.

I choose to trust Him.

Pastor Floyd wanted to wait until all election returns are in to write about them, so please check his blog tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

Jeana and I voted last week since we had to be in Dallas today at a Board of Trustees meeting for GuideStone Financial Services. It was a pleasure to walk right in, vote my convictions, walk out in 10 minutes, and continue to pray for our nation. I have called out to God on this vote for over a year, praying that God would raise up whoever He wants to lead our nation as President. I trust Him.

If you have not voted, get out to vote today. What a privilege we have as Americans, so go and vote today. Nations in the world exist that would love to exercise this freedom.We have this freedom. Vote today.

For right at two years, event after event, day after day, we have witnessed everything rolling towards this day, November 4. People are engaging in the voting process, some say more than ever in our nation’s history. I guess by tonight, we will know that. As well, tonight we will know how they have voted on future leaders and issues.

Now, tonight, when we find out who wins the Presidency, to any other office, all the way to the city level, and when we discover which issue received approval or disapproval, my position is: "I TRUST GOD." What about you? Are you going to trust God? God is working, even though we may or may not like the result. Only time will tell where matters are in our country.

Regardless, I go forward with God. I will pray for our new President and Vice-President and their families. I will do so daily. I will pray for other elected leaders. I will surge forward, trying to be all God wants me to be in the day in which we live. Who occupies what office will not determine my level of commitment to God.

Let’s pray for today, trust God with the results, and pray for the future of our nation.

Fear and uncertainty are the twin towers in the hearts of many Americans today. Never in our generation have we seen more fear about the future and observed people’s uncertainty over what to do about it. We have seen and heard leaders with no answers and experts who provide no hope. I do not remember a time in my life when matters seemed so out of hand.

America is running over with trouble. The country is so polarized politically you would think we were more than one nation. Leadership that is respected and diplomatic appears to be non-existent. Shouting and yelling at one another now comprise our so-called news, which is no more than continual commentary. In fact, what is the real news? It is hard to tell, is it not? Who do we believe? You see, there is a “trust crisis” in our nation. Through the years, there has always been a person, a leader, or a group of people who stood up and led us through the challenges in our country. As Americans, we have always followed them, meeting those challenges. That is what Americans do.

Where are leaders? Where are the people who will rally our country towards a better future? Let me share a word with you: Those people need to be in our homes and in our churches. We have looked to politics to set agendas for too long. Spiritual leaders in our homes and churches need to rise up. Together, we must look to God. My friend, it is past time; we must look to God alone.

This is the day where God has the attention of our nation! So many of us have given our lives to pray for spiritual revival and awakening to occur in America. Perhaps we have wanted to believe the Lord would bring revival when our country seemed to be doing okay. Yet, when we are doing okay, we just do not look to God, do we? Well, things have changed. God has our attention.

It is time for the church to stand up and provide the leadership and hope that is so desired in our country today. This is a moment for us to rise up with the Word of God in one hand and hope for all people in the other. God is still sitting on the Throne. Nothing in recent days from the crises on Wall Street to Main Street or Your Street have changed His posture or position. He is in charge. He is sovereign over all affairs.

Our message is positive: God is our hope. This is the moment that the message of the gospel and the hope it offers has more appeal than perhaps ever in our generation. This is the moment when we can pray for all people. Trust me, they desire people to lift them up in prayer. During these moments in our nation, we must stand up and resonate with God’s message of hope.

What a great privilege to live in our nation. I love America. I know you do too. Because we love America, we need to pray. Because we love America, we need to be more committed to ministering to people than ever before. Because we love America, we need to be more intentional about sharing the gospel than ever before. Yes, because we love America, we need to vote on November 4. Because we love America, we have hope for our nation.

I am waiting with great expectation that God is up to something and is going to do a major thing in our country. Only the Lord can destroy the twin towers of fear and uncertainty in the hearts of people. Only the Lord can give us peace and hope. Yes, I am hopeful. I know God is working. Therefore …

I stand with the Lord filled with hope for America.