“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
– Romans 13:1-2
Friday, January 20, 2017, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of The United States of America.
Whether you voted for him or not, remember that like every president who has come before him, from George Washington to Barack Obama, God alone has placed him in leadership.
God “removes kings and establishes kings” so, in obedience to God, you and I must honor God’s choice.
Some may ask, “How can I submit to an authority which I am opposed to?” or “How can I honor a president with whom I do not agree?
Practice patience just as God is patient with you.
Offer him the same mercy and grace that you would desire for yourself.
(The same mercy and grace which God offers you through his son, Jesus Christ.)
For if you do not give mercy, God will not be merciful to you.
We are told in the book of James, to “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
In doing these things you are honoring God, for “there is no authority except that which God has established.”
It’s time for each person to decide.
Will you remain in a place of resentment or move into a place of forgiveness?
Will you remain in a place of judgment or move into a place of mercy?
Will you remain in bondage to pride and anger or move into a place of humility and a life of freedom in Jesus Christ?
It’s time to humble ourselves.
It’s time to pray.
It’s time to seek the face of God.
It’s time to repent and turn from our disobedience and rebellion, then God will hear from heaven and will forgive our sin and heal our land.
It’s time to lay down our pride and submit to God.
It’s time.
In the words of Leonard Ravenhill, “There is no other way for America to be saved unless we have a Holy Ghost revival that makes men hate sin and loathe sin and turn from sin and repent from sin!”
Repent Believe Persevere
REPENT BELIEVE PERSEVERE 
Our history tells us of leaders who were tyrants, men who were so blood-thirsty that their position as God’s authority could not protect them from good hearted men and women who could bear no more murders. Sometimes God gives people bad leaders; like the ancient kings who would outdo each other in terms of leading the people astray. There’s a point in time where submission and prayer isn’t enough. Thankfully, we’re not there yet – but we have to be prepared and vigilant.
After all, when those Bible verses were written, they didn’t have democracies in mind. Pretty much every society was a monarchy and the people were powerless against their own leaders anyway. In our country, we are our own leaders, even the least of us, we choose our leaders to represent us; but that means we can choose times when they don’t represent us. Not everyone feels that Trump represents them and that’s just fine.
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Jamie, Thank you for commenting.
I agree that not everyone feels that Trump represents them, and that is fine. Every president faces opposition.
I hope that you don’t think I was saying that everyone needs to agree with him (or any leader for that matter) or be silent when there is injustice or oppression or corruption.
We can speak out, bringing darkness to light, while still honoring God.
We can extend mercy and grace to people we do not agree with, and if you are a believer in Christ, you are called to do that.
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