A President That Prays
Reporting for Fox News, on February 1, 2018, Elizabeth Zwirz posted the wonderful story about Sophia Campa-Peters, a 9 year old girl who recently underwent brain surgery.
“On behalf of President Trump, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders asked the nation on Jan. 23 to pray for a little girl in Texas who was prepping for an upcoming surgery for a rare brain condition, KFOR reported. And it appears that those prayers were answered after the girl’s father said Sunday that his daughter was out of the ICU and “getting back to her normal, goofy, silly, self.”
“Sophia is out of ICU, she is in a regular room and doing well!” Scott Andy Peters said on Facebook. “Physical Therapist says she looks great. She is eating pizza and watching Frozen, getting back to her normal, goofy, silly self.”
Nine-year-old Sophia Marie Campa-Peters, of Brownfield, Texas, had surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital on Friday for “a rare disease that causes the blood vessels in her brain to narrow and close,” according to the statement from the White House. The condition has reportedly caused the girl to suffer a number of strokes throughout her young life, some of which left her partially paralyzed.
Word of her condition and pending operation made its way to the desk of President Trump. Peters reportedly hoped to get 10,000 people to pray for her on the day of her surgery.
“We want to make sure she gets that and far exceeds it,” Sanders said during the press briefing on Jan. 23. “So today, Sophia, I’m here to tell you that millions of people from every corner of the world will be praying for you on January 26th.”
“And among those will be people, and all of us here at the White House, including President Trump,” Sanders continued. “He told me to tell you to keep fighting, to never give up, keep inspiring us all, and never, ever lose faith in God. With Him, all things are possible.”
Over the course of Peters’ diagnosis, Sanders said the girl demonstrated bravery and inexplicably overcame obstacles “leaving her doctors dumfounded.”
Despite undergoing a number of surgeries, Sanders said, Peters “has faced each one of them with a fearless exuberance for life that warms the heart of everyone she meets.”
This is a lovely story. It is an inspirational story. It is a story that will not be widely reported by the mainstream news media because the story reveals the great heart President Trump has for the weak and sick in our society. Nevertheless, the following gospel truths can be discerned.
God is a Prayer Hearing God
First, God is a prayer hearing God. “O thou that hearest prayer” (Psa. 65:2). Believing this, little
Sophia Peters and her family invited 10,000 people to pray with her, and for her, on the day of her surgery.
Second, God is a prayer answering God. Sometimes the Lord will answer our prayers in the way that was asked. “I asked, He answered,” is the testimony of countless people when a specific request has been made. Sometimes the Lord will answer our prayer in an unexpected way that is even better. Sometimes God will say no to a petition. Sometimes God will say wait. But every prayer prayed will be answered by God in some way.
Third, God will answer prayer that is for our good. This is the promise of Romans 8:28. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Fourth, God will respond to the prayers of righteous individuals. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Fifth, God will raise up righteous leaders to be a good example to a nation, for, “righteousness exalts a nation.” (Prov. 13:34) President Donald J. Trump is proving himself to be a righteous man. He is not a perfect man, any more than King David was a man without great personal flaws. However, President Trump is a righteous man when he prays, invites prayer, and leads the nations to pray for others. A heart of love will pray for others. George Sand said, “There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” Dear people let us love one another, for love is of God. (1 John 4:7)
Pray for the President
As the President prays for individuals, let the nation pray for the President. It is the known will of God. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” (1 Tim. 2:1-3)
