I awoke early this morning, thoughts of the inauguration on my mind. I found myself imagining what might be happening at this hour at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. If they’ve even been to bed yet, what must it be like to awaken there on this first day…especially for this president, the first black man in power in that White House?
All history-making, tradition and fanfare aside, it begins today: the keeping of promises made, the unfathomable challenges to which he now lays claim. Half the country will awaken this morning infused with fresh hope for a brighter tomorrow, while the other half braces for “change” they do not welcome. The division in that last statement burdens me, but its truth paints the picture of the reality of this age.
Our country is a whole, a body, made up of many parts, and while our new president may represent the “head” of that body, he does not represent the “heart”. Fortunately, that “heart” never changes with the election cycle and is not dependent on popular or electoral vote. The heart of this nation and everyone in it is a holy and sovereign God, upon Whose principles this nation was founded and within Whose Hand its destiny lies. While our opinions may divide us, our unity can be found in the unchanging power and consistency of our Heart Beat.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his [a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.
May we, fervently, this day and all that follow, lift up President Obama; that he would lead with the clarity and wisdom of a sound mind, but that ABOVE ALL, he would FOLLOW THE HEART of our nation.
Throughout the night, and into these early hours of a altogether new day, my heart stirred along similar themes. A page has turned, and how the new chapter will read is anyone’s guess at this point. But I resolve to pray for and support this new President, my President … even though I did not vote for him.
Thank you for the sweet thoughts and Psalm.
Kathleen
We all need to stop stirring up the past and look ahead. This may not be the president some of us wanted but he is our president. Now, as Christians, it is our duty to pray for him, his family, and all others in office.
Blessings,
Sheryl
You go Melinda!!! Praying for him. Praying for all of them making decisions. God will move in there too. 🙂
I’ll see you so very soon!
Love,
Fran
Father, may President Obama AND his wife, be found with a heart, HOT after God! Knee’s bended, heart broken to be used by You. Amen.
Melinda, your post is wonderful!
Love to you,
Yolanda
Melinda,
A very nice way of depicting how sad my heart was yesterday. I avoided any viewing of the inauguration ceremonies.
Our nation (read:media) has made a celebrity of this new president. Today the rubber meets the road with a new Commander in Chief whom I believe is not qualified.
I will pray for him and support him as the one in command but I will most likely disagree with almost every policy and principle (as I have so far)because they do not represent the founding fathers’ intentions nor the principles of the other half of the nation that didn’t vote for him.
My prayer will especially be that all the “conservative” Christians stay steadfast in our beliefs and that we can withstand a long 4 years without losing heart. I believe the destiny of our nation is in the prayers of “the church”. If the church doesn’t pray there is no open door for God to move. Our nation is strong because of its foundation and we will come through this if we don’t get faint-hearted (or brainwashed).
Thanks for the reminder of Ps 96… It is a splendid focal point to keep our hearts and minds at peace during these troubled times.
Meems @ Walk Wisely
Fabulous post, Melinda. I’ve struggled in my response to the “changing of the guard.” I cried a few tears yesterday, but probably not for the reasons most were crying.
A very somber time for me, and I am still processing my thoughts along these lines. I suppose it roots to the “heart” of the matter…
where do our hearts lie? On man or on God? And while I watched, in part, the festivities yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder if our admiration is a bit misplaced. I’ve not witnessed anything of this proportion in my lifetime, and I’m simply a little annoyed by the fact that my God doesn’t arouse in us the same type of accolades and response.
OK…off the soapbox here. I really must pause for further reflection.
Truly, I love your thoughts. I will be praying.
peace~elaine
Oh, as much as my heart breaks over this new leadership, I do know that the King of Kings wants us to pray, so pray I will!
I admit that it does harden my heart to read (I don’t have tv, so I read his speech in print on-line yesterday) how he distorts God’s righteous Word for his own purposes. He is tickling the ears of the lost and those not fully engaged in a real Christian life. We must remember to pray for those folks too.
Blessings on your day and all you do.
~ A Simple Country Girl (aka Darlene)
Absolutely… praying for him and his entire family. I’m thanking the Lord for His sovereignty today. High King of heaven – I love You!
Thank you for sharing from your heart and from scripture. We must put our faith and trust in the Lord and pray for our new leadership.
Thank you for sharing from your heart and from scripture. We must put our faith and trust in God and pray that our new president will seek God in every decision.
I will be praying, too, Melinda!