A new day in America?

Many are hopeful, even in a euphoric way, that today is the beginning of a new day in American politics and national well-being. A new president has taken the reins of government, full of promises to bring a change in the business of the country, and has committed himself to serving all Americans.

These are fairly standard phrases for a man who's just taken over what is perhaps the biggest job in the world; one who knows that people are longing for good news and hopeful words. And it may well be that Mr. Obama has the support of Congress, and of enough of the American people, to make good on his campaign vows to effect the kinds of change a majority of citizens want to see.

Whether the changes will be beneficial ones, whether the massive problems awaiting him will yield to his wisdom, whether the country will be better off in four years, all remains to be seen. And whether the effects of all this will make America a more godly nation is a question that seems more in doubt than whether the economy will rebound under Mr. Obama's leadership; given the tone of his pledges to overturn certain policies of the previous administration that were widely supported by evangelicals.

Either way, churches of all theologies and philosophies have a common command: to pray for our new president, as for his entire government, that God may give the wisdom that doesn't come by way of political experience or sub-committee meetings. If God required the early church to obey the Roman authorities, as powers ordained by God to keep order in the world (Romans 13), and if God commanded Christians to "honor the king" that was in power at that time (1 Peter 2), then He certainly would have us lift up our current leaders in prayer.

And beyond praying for divine guidance for these men and women, let us rejoice that our King is still on the throne, and has promised to bring His administration of grace and righteousness to this world, in His time and in His way. And that's not just election talk!