Thank you very much, everybody.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Complicated business.
Complicated. – President-Elect Donald Trump
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Complicated business.
Complicated. – President-Elect Donald Trump
With those
words, the man who will likely become the 45th president of the
United States publically greeted his staff and supporters in the early morning
hours following Election Day, 2016.
Donald Trump’s acceptance speech signaled the end of one phase of his “complicated
business” of leading what he calls a “great movement” to “Make America Great
Again.” Meanwhile, his opponent, Sec.
Hillary Clinton, her many supporters and many others across the nation were in
stunned amazement at the reports of what Trump had just accomplished with no
prior experience in public office.
 |
| President-Elect Donald J. Trump and VP-Elect, Mike Pence |
A very cheery Donald Trump addressed positive words of assurance to our wounded
and divided nation following the bitter campaign. As if he was speaking into the heart of every
American, he promised to serve well as their president, saying,
I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all of Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.
With a much smaller budget for his campaign and with a much less elaborate “ground game,” Donald Trump accomplished what few believed he could do. Trump’s key to success was that he understood the outcry of many Americans who want less government and a humble, servant spirit from those in Washington. Trump addressed this fact with the following words:
As I've said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family.
Having witnessed the lack of hope and the frustration on so many faces of Americans across the country, and now this night suddenly realizing that his shoulders will soon bear the weight of presidential responsibilities, Trump renewed his commitment to the American people (emphasis mine),
It is a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds, and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people -- and serve the people it will. … I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all of Americans, and this is so important to me.
This afternoon when I heard these recorded words from President-Elect Trump, I was much encouraged by his vision for the federal government—“a government to serve the people.” My immediate response was to ask myself whether this often brash, unpredictable man can be a “servant leader” or “steward-leader”—one who can exercise stewardship of the power and privilege entrusted to him by the citizens he serves, and ultimately entrusted by God to Whom all power belongs. Only time will tell. But for now, we should thank God for allowing the uncontested selection of our next president, and for allowing the respectful acknowledgement of Trump’s victory by his opponent. Both of these processes will aid in the reuniting of our country.
If Donald Trump is to be an effective steward leader he will need the prayers of Christ-followers across our land and the world who acknowledge that all power comes from God. Christians should remember that true steward leadership grows from humility. A humble leader serves the people well and does not abuse his power. He or she remembers his own puniness and depravity in the presence of Almighty God. Or in the words of Vice President-Elect Mike Pence whom I respect as a proven servant leader we must regularly “bend the knee and bow the head” in prayer to God. We can continue pray that God will spiritually transform Donald Trump through his association with godly men of proven character like Mike Pence, Mike Huckabee, Franklin Graham, and Ben Carson.
In a 2012 article, Character Qualities of a Steward-Leader, I referred to President Ronald Reagan as an example of one whose leadership was successful because he acknowledged the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations. Reagan also demonstrated godly character in his dealings with others and through his respect for the spiritual heritage of America. Speaking at a prayer breakfast shortly after his election as governor of California, in 1967, Reagan said,
Faith in God is absolutely essential if a person is to do his best. Sometimes we’re afraid to let people know that we rely on God. Belief in the dependence on God is essential to our state and nation. This will be an integral part of our state as long as I have anything to do with it.
King Solomon also recognized the supreme authority of God over his rule and acknowledged his desperate need of God’s wisdom and strength. At the beginning of his administration, Solomon prayed,
Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in…So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. – King Solomon (1 Kings 3: 7, 9, 10)
Could it be that God has bestowed the Presidency of the United States upon Donald Trump so that, in the words of pagan King Nebuchadnezzar,
…the living may know
that the Most High [God] is Ruler
over the realm of mankind,
and bestows it on whom He wishes,
and sets over it the lowliest of men. – Daniel 4: 17
Neither Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, or King Solomon were born with exemplary moral character. However, throughout history God has graciously worked in the lives of men and women to prepare them to be godly leaders. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2: 10 writes, We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
If you are a Christ-follower, please pray that God will transform the life of Donald Trump as he senses the full weight of responsibility that is about to be on his shoulders. Pray that Trump will humbly respond to God’s call in his life through circumstances, through godly mentors, and through the prayers and encouragement of God’s people that we will recognize and exercise our responsibility to pray for our next president, his family, and those he will choose to serve with him.
I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all of Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.
With a much smaller budget for his campaign and with a much less elaborate “ground game,” Donald Trump accomplished what few believed he could do. Trump’s key to success was that he understood the outcry of many Americans who want less government and a humble, servant spirit from those in Washington. Trump addressed this fact with the following words:
As I've said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family.
Having witnessed the lack of hope and the frustration on so many faces of Americans across the country, and now this night suddenly realizing that his shoulders will soon bear the weight of presidential responsibilities, Trump renewed his commitment to the American people (emphasis mine),
It is a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds, and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people -- and serve the people it will. … I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all of Americans, and this is so important to me.
This afternoon when I heard these recorded words from President-Elect Trump, I was much encouraged by his vision for the federal government—“a government to serve the people.” My immediate response was to ask myself whether this often brash, unpredictable man can be a “servant leader” or “steward-leader”—one who can exercise stewardship of the power and privilege entrusted to him by the citizens he serves, and ultimately entrusted by God to Whom all power belongs. Only time will tell. But for now, we should thank God for allowing the uncontested selection of our next president, and for allowing the respectful acknowledgement of Trump’s victory by his opponent. Both of these processes will aid in the reuniting of our country.
If Donald Trump is to be an effective steward leader he will need the prayers of Christ-followers across our land and the world who acknowledge that all power comes from God. Christians should remember that true steward leadership grows from humility. A humble leader serves the people well and does not abuse his power. He or she remembers his own puniness and depravity in the presence of Almighty God. Or in the words of Vice President-Elect Mike Pence whom I respect as a proven servant leader we must regularly “bend the knee and bow the head” in prayer to God. We can continue pray that God will spiritually transform Donald Trump through his association with godly men of proven character like Mike Pence, Mike Huckabee, Franklin Graham, and Ben Carson.
In a 2012 article, Character Qualities of a Steward-Leader, I referred to President Ronald Reagan as an example of one whose leadership was successful because he acknowledged the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations. Reagan also demonstrated godly character in his dealings with others and through his respect for the spiritual heritage of America. Speaking at a prayer breakfast shortly after his election as governor of California, in 1967, Reagan said,
Faith in God is absolutely essential if a person is to do his best. Sometimes we’re afraid to let people know that we rely on God. Belief in the dependence on God is essential to our state and nation. This will be an integral part of our state as long as I have anything to do with it.
King Solomon also recognized the supreme authority of God over his rule and acknowledged his desperate need of God’s wisdom and strength. At the beginning of his administration, Solomon prayed,
Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in…So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord. – King Solomon (1 Kings 3: 7, 9, 10)
Could it be that God has bestowed the Presidency of the United States upon Donald Trump so that, in the words of pagan King Nebuchadnezzar,
…the living may know
that the Most High [God] is Ruler
over the realm of mankind,
and bestows it on whom He wishes,
and sets over it the lowliest of men. – Daniel 4: 17
Neither Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, or King Solomon were born with exemplary moral character. However, throughout history God has graciously worked in the lives of men and women to prepare them to be godly leaders. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2: 10 writes, We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
If you are a Christ-follower, please pray that God will transform the life of Donald Trump as he senses the full weight of responsibility that is about to be on his shoulders. Pray that Trump will humbly respond to God’s call in his life through circumstances, through godly mentors, and through the prayers and encouragement of God’s people that we will recognize and exercise our responsibility to pray for our next president, his family, and those he will choose to serve with him.
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