Donald Trump’s “personal pastor” Paula White opened the President’s re-election rally in Florida Tuesday with a prayer against “demonic networks” in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer for Trump

“Let every demonic network that has aligned itself against the purpose, against the calling of President Trump, let it be broken, let it be torn down in the name of Jesus,” White prayed. “I declare that President Trump will overcome every strategy from hell and every strategy from the enemy. … I secure his calling, I secure his purpose, I secure his family, and we secure victory in the name which is above every name … the name of Jesus Christ.”

The Washington Post practically sneered at the prayer. 

White didn’t say what demonic networks and enemies Trump was up against.

But the dramatic prayer would be par for the course at a rally infused with disdain for Trump’s list of stated enemies — the media, the Democrats, the usual suspects — and punctuated with unwavering support for the president’s agenda.

White’s appearance fit that theme. 

“Demonic networks” doesn’t refer to MSNBC and CNN, as tempting as that may be. It refers to the spiritual “principalities and powers” described in Ephesians 6:12. Ultimately Trump’s fight is not against flesh and blood — or anchors and talking heads. In this warfare, prayer is more potent than a pointed tweet.

The President Accepting Prayer

Paula White’s prayer and the presence Tuesday night of other faith leaders points to something one could see as a miracle, given the history of Donald J. Trump. He’s come to welcome and seek prayer. Stream publisher James Robison has spoken often about how the President encourages prayer from Christians who surround him.

Now he’s even publicly seeking it out. Just two weeks ago Trump dropped in on McLean Bible Church to receive prayer from the pastor and to pray for victims of the Virginia Beach shooting. Could anyone imagine the Trump of even three years ago dropping in on a church out of the blue to be prayed for? 

CNN Reporter Shocked

Some are shocked that people would pray for the president, including CNN reporter Ed Lavandera. Lavandera commented that “the devotion to President Trump is so intense here that a recent meeting of the village Republicans started out with a prayer asking God to ‘deliver President Trump from the evil that is bent on destroying him.'”

He seemed to forget that people have been praying for presidents long before Trump entered the White House.

Trump supporter stuns CNN reporter in interview before Florida re-election rally https://t.co/Fv8frZgIDr

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) June 19, 2019

Was the Prayer Partisan? Perhaps Not

Dr. Michael Brown wrote today on The Stream that White’s prayer could be considered partisan, something he does find concerning.

However, Brown states that perhaps White was not necessarily praying for his re-election as much as she was acknowledging God’s will for Trump’s presidency. Brown explained that White could be saying “God, we believe that you raised up Donald Trump to be our president, and therefore we stand against every satanic attack that comes against him in Jesus’ name. And we are declaring by faith that he will accomplish everything you have planned for him.”

Brown reminded readers to never forget the big question is not whether God is on our side, but whether we are on his. He urged this simple prayer:

Can all believers agree to pray, ‘Heavenly Father, Your will be done in the 2020 elections! And Your will be done in us! Conform us to the image and character of Jesus!’

Nancy Flory is an Associate Editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and you can follow The Stream @streamdotorg.