Dear Mr. President,

As I knelt for prayer this morning, I thought of you. I prayed that God would lead you in your decisions and that you would listen to Him. I prayed for Mrs. Obama and for your beautiful girls, that God will protect them and guide them as they lead a public life. I prayed that God would burden your heart for doing what is right in His eyes and not the world's eyes. I prayed that you would be man enough to stand for Godly principles, without worry about what it will do to your political career. I also prayed that God will give you time with your family, rest for your mind, and peace in your heart.

I know that it was a rumor that you "called off" the National Day of Prayer. Immediately, I knew that was ridiculous, because one man, even you Mr. President, could never call off a day of prayer. You see, as I walked into my school this morning, I was praying. I prayed for the teacher that opened the door for me. I prayed for the teachers as I passed their doorways in the hall. I prayed for students as I passed their lockers. Most likely, I will continue to pray throughout this and every day.

I didn't lead anyone astray by praying. In fact, I like to think I assist them with their day. You, Mr. President, should yourself be a prayer warrior. With all that you have to handle, I like to think that you simply fall on your knees and beg God for His mercy on this great country of ours. I can just picture you sitting down to dinner with your family, and you and Mrs. Obama holding hands with your girls around the table, bowing your heads to thank God for his many, many blessings in your life. I also like to think that if you have a heavy meeting with Heads of State that you bow your head first and simply ask God to give you wisdom. I hope that you kneel by your bed at night and thank the Lord for another day.

However, with all due respect Mr. President, I fear that you take each day for granted. I am afraid that you think that you can just handle everything. I wonder if you put your political leanings ahead of your convictions, or if you even have any Godly convictions at all. I am concerned that you and Mrs. Obama don't have the time to focus on much needed family time, and that your girls don't get to see you nearly enough. Do you assume there will be food on your table each time you sit down to eat? When you go to sleep at night, do you just take for granted that you will wake up the next morning?

When I was on my way to school this morning, I passed a park. In that park, there was a small gathering of students. They appeared to be teenagers, probably on their way to school. They were gathering near the flagpole where the great American flag always flies, and they were praying. PRAYING. They weren't rushing around to get ready, playing around in the school parking lot, or lollygagging around at home. They were gathering to PRAY. If, Mr. President, teenagers in America can take 10 minutes of their day to pray for our nation, surely you, as our leader, can take a moment each day.

Mr. President, with all due respect, don't let another day pass without hitting your knees in prayer. Our nation is hurting, with so many in pain. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and their families. Men are ending their lives because they feel hopeless being unable to support their wife and children. Women are abandoning their children because they just don't see how they can take care of them any more. People are dying of hunger every day in our country. Homeless wander the streets. Our veterans suffer with post traumatic stress disorder and never receive the help that they need or the respect they deserve. Our nation is dying, Mr. President, and if that doesn't bring you to your knees, I just can't imagine where your heart is.

This day and every day, named or unnamed, should be a day of prayer in your life and mine. Even if you are pressured politically to "cancel" the National Day of Prayer, I will be praying. I can assure you that I'm not the only one either, because those of us that are hurting and struggling just to make it in this world HAVE to depend on someone bigger than us, someone more powerful. That One is my God, and without Him I would be nothing. Jesus is the Way. He is the Answer no matter the question. Mr. President, don't you let a day go by without calling on the name of the Lord, for II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Our land needs healing, Mr. President, and you are not the man to do it. No mortal man can. I know a God Who can though, and I beg of you to call on His name, today and every day.

Sincerely,
Karen