Franklin Graham: Pray for All in Authority

I recently was invited to pray at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. I was there as a private citizen, and it was an honor to turn our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ—our only hope—and ask for His hand of mercy and blessing upon our country.

The convention met just days after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Hours after that failed attack during his speech, President Trump declared that it was “God and God alone” who protected him and spared his life. The bullet, fired from a range of almost 150 yards, grazed and bloodied his right ear.

Had he not turned his head slightly to the right as the bullet whizzed by, he would not be alive. President Trump himself said, “I am not supposed to be here, I am supposed to be dead.”

I truly believe that it was God’s sovereign, merciful hand that spared Trump’s life that day. Neither I nor anyone else can fully understand or comprehend the sovereign ways of Almighty God, but the Scripture is clear that He is in complete control of everything that happens in the universe. Our “times are in His hands” (Cf. Psalm 31:15). Just as the Lord can redirect the heart of a king wherever He desires (see Proverbs 21:1), He certainly can turn the head of a president whenever He wants.

I believe this is a critical time in the history of America. After turning our back on God for so long, it is my sincere and urgent prayer that the Lord will turn our hearts once again to Himself in repentance and faith—beginning with lukewarm believers who fail to stand boldly for Christ and His Kingdom. I believe the rising tide of violence, evil, malice and chaos can be restrained by a merciful God who hears and answers the prayers and pleas of His people.

That’s why it is crucial that believers intercede regularly and fervently on behalf of their leaders. “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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

As the presidential election draws near, pray for the candidates and those who are running for Congress as well as state and local races. Prayer is powerful and effective (see James 5:16) because it pleads before a sovereign, wise, holy God who “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

If we truly believe that God is the only hope for America, then let’s go to Him in prayer like never before, but not merely for the sake of an election. The stakes are much higher, as the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” ©2024 BGEA

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version.

Franklin Graham’s Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, we come before You this evening with grateful hearts. Thank You for saving the life of President Donald J. Trump. In his own words, it was You and You alone who saved him.

We pray for the others that were injured on Saturday, and for the family who lost their loved one. Put Your loving arms around them. Comfort them, and may they sense Your presence. We stand before You tonight. We say thank You for the provisions You have given to the United States of America. You have blessed this country more than any country in the world. Sadly, as a nation, we have forgotten who is responsible for all the freedoms, the liberties and the bounty that we enjoy. It has all come from You. Thank You.

This evening our nation is in trouble. We’re divided politically, racially, economically, with millions of people seeking refuge and hope in our dry and thirsty land. You’re the only One who can fix the complexity of the problems that we face today. We pray for President Trump, that You would give him wisdom, strength and a clear vision for the future of this nation and the task that is at hand. Continue to protect him from his enemies.

I pray that You would surround him with men and women who will give him sound counsel and guidance. We pray for Melania, for Barron, and for all of President Trump’s children and grandchildren. We pray for Sen. J.D. Vance, his wife Usha, along with their young family. We’re thankful for his strong stand for defending life.

As Your Word instructs, we also pray for the leaders of our nation, whether they’re Republican, Democrat or Independent. We know that all authority comes from You. You are a great God, and we ask that if it be Thy will, that You’ll make America great once again. And we ask that You’ll unite our hearts. Bring us together, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, and we pray this in the mighty Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Amen.