Praying For President Trump

The liturgy for Holy Eucharist in the Episcopalian church includes “Prayers of the People,” during which we pray for the Church, our country, people across the world, our community, those who are in need for whatever reason, and the departed, among others. This means that on most Sundays we are praying for President Trump in church.

The Book of Common Prayer offers several different forms of prayers, and from time to time we use other forms from alternative prayer books. When the prayer for our leaders is general (as above), it rolls off my tongue. But when it gets more specific, I find myself choking back a snarky yeah, right before uttering my Amen.

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Praying For President Trump

My husband will be the first to complain tell you about my really bad habit of rolling my eyes when I hear something I am skeptical of or disagree with. I know it’s rude, but it takes real effort to keep my skepticism and disagreement to myself. Knowing this, my snarky reaction to praying for President Trump led to some soul-searching.

I think my reaction to these prayers is rooted in skepticism of Trump’s motivation and disagreement with Trump’s policies. The words feel futile, but it is that feeling of futility that bothers me the most. I don’t expect Trump to change, but if I believe praying for President Trump is a waste of breath, aren’t I also doubting God’s power and influence?

In my post-Christmas decluttering I came across the bulletin from our Thanksgiving service, which included this verse from 1 Timothy. The Apostle Paul saw the Roman Emperor order the crucifixion of Jesus, yet he still believed in praying for their rulers. These words admonish me to put aside my personal feelings of futility and pray for those in power.

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I was not surprised when I heard that President Trump attended a Christmas Eve service at the Washington National Cathedral–after all, it is a great place to be seen on Christmas Eve. But when I read Bishop Budde’s comments that the President seemed to be fully engaged in the service, I was able to think of the President in a different light–as a person as vulnerable as we all are to the transformative power of God. So, I will continue praying for President Trump, and strive to do so with less skepticism and more faith that God’s will be done. Amen.

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