Regardless who you voted for, today is a historic day.
A recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds stratospheric expectations for the incoming president. A majority of those surveyed say Obama will be able to achieve every one of 10 major campaign promises, from doubling the production of alternative energy to ensuring all children have health insurance coverage. His job approval rate is currently at 83% although it’s just his first day. 
If you had one piece of advice for our incoming president, what would it be?
Listen. Listen to your family, to your close advisors, to your country. Most importantly listen to the one who truly governs all. It’s not all about personal ambitions and self gain, but it is about the people that you are leading along the way.
Don’t read or believe your own press. As an athlete i was always told not to read the paper and believe what they say. May I add more advice? Forget the approval ratings. i seem to remember a certain president whose approval rating was near 90% following a successful Gulf War and reached low proportions before he exited office. Time will tell the real truth. Certainly not the press corp.
Pray for the wisdom to lead our country. Listen to God’s word and heed it above the advice of your cabinet.
What Helen said.
Don’t forget about the military and how important what they do is!
Get a good sense of humor and a good night sleep?
It’s the first thing that came to me:)
Listen to God. Listen to your wife.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding,
in all your ways acknowledge Him
and He will make your paths straight
Proverbs 3:10
Blessings,
ransom33 @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
Keep people around you who think differently and have different opionions than you. Set aside pride enough to listen to opposing thought and test and see if there is a better way to do things even if it is not your idea.
Don’t listen to anything that Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid or any of the kooks in your party say. Try not to drive us towards Socialism. Today I support the President because I do want to see him succeed unlike all the Democrats who never gave Bush a chance.
Pray and ditto to what Bill said above, don’t read your own press clippings.
Seek God’s face. Accept Him into your life. Yearn for Him. Use the Word of God as a guideline. Do not succumb to peer pressure. Pray fervently. And, I will be praying for you, too.
You will always be the second best someone else.
Humble yourself before God and seek him first.
Dang. I’m thinking I need to listen to a lot of this advice.
my advice for President Obama is to be focused and be discipline in other to acheive more than his predecessor. Congratulation President Obama and wish you success.
Hannah, I thought Pres. Bush did a pretty good of keeping us safe after the 9/11 attacks and he did right the ship in Iraq. So let’s not say he didn’t accomplish anything because I have a feeling Bush’s presidency will be viewed favorably in history similar to Harry Truman’s
Govern from the Constitution, not from personal political ambition.
I feel as though God is bringing my husband and I through a time of seeing our dreams come to life. It has been an amazing journey! (I’m sure our President-Elect is feeling these same things)
A few months ago God brought a section of Scripture to me that humbled me and energized me at the same time. Deuteronomy 8: 11-18. For me personally, I felt that God was telling me, when you get to the place you have dreamed of going DON”T FORGET ME.
If I had the chance to sit down, face to face, with our new President I would want, more than anything, to tell him, DON’T FORGET GOD. Take HIM with you in this journey. Remember that HE got you here and HE will lead you through these next couple of years.
Stay connected to God and and to the voice of the people.
This is a Free Market, Capitalistic Democracy!!!
Keep the main thing the main thing…somehow someway in your own life keep the main thing the main thing.
@Giantidiot, I’m proud of you. You’re staying really calm today.
Seek God
I’d be more likely to want to give a reminder to myself and all of my fellow citizens: let’s get behind our new president and give him a chance. Let’s hold back our criticism and let’s build on whatever he has to offer that is good and true and right!
It’s not about what “you” think, it’s not about the plans of man…
Don’t get too concerned when your 83% turns into 38% after people begin to realize that POTUS does not equal God, and not all of your plans will succeed.
Honestly, that is my biggest quandry right now. The amount of faith and belief that Obama is generating will most likely have a Very large impact on our country… simply because that is what Faith and Belief do. Just as Fear and Despair breed failure, Faith and Belief breed success. My fear is that he will get all of the credit, instead of God who really deserves it. So, I find myself praying that God will be gracious and grant Obama success, but that He will be jealous and turn our hearts towards Himself in the process. Sadly, history tells me that a nation rarely turns its heart back to God in times of prosperity. (Though Nehemiah may be an exception there… and a good one at that)
@ Giant Idiot I’m not Hannah so I don’t presume to know what she actually meant with her response, but it doesn’t seem as if she was trying to say that President Bush didn’t accomplish anything. It seems as though she was saying that Obama should strive to do MORE than what Bush did. Not because she feels like Bush didn’t do anything, but because a successor should always want to do bigger and better things than his/her predecessor. Now again I’m not Hannah so I could be mistaken in my assumption.
@Jeff Johnson That’s a big fear of mine as well. People have placed an enormous amount of hope onto him and he will undoubtedly let some people down.
So I guess that ties into my advice…which is like the advice of pretty much everyone else that has posted. I would advise him to listen to God and God alone. Because who knows what’s in a man’s heart, but you can take it to the bank that God will never have a secret agenda. And only God can give you the power to create and implement any policy and procedure. I would also tell him that he has a steep hill to climb, which I’m sure he already knows. And in order to get America over the hill he can’t give in to political pressure because there’s going to be mounds of people that he encounters with a to-do list that has nothing to do with the good of the entire country.
Constance you might be right but to me the tenor of her comment was Bush did nothing. Which if you believe the press and the like he did. But if you really look at his record there was some significant accomplishments.
I like everything GiantIdiot saya!! Thank you President Bush. I admire what you have done in office. I pray for President Obama to humble himself to our creator. and to listen to all Americans not just those pushing their liberal agenda.
me give advice to someone older, wiser and more proven. I don’t think so. I think he should give me some advice.
Remember…It is not how you start the race but how you finish!
Any advice?
Submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Am I allowed to give advice to a US President when I don’t have a green card?
Well, I’ll give it anyway. It may help to have an outside perspective. Which I think is a good thing
Be humble. Be careful who you trust – listen to all, but ask God for discernment. And, be kind and think not only for your country, but how the decisions you make affect other countries too. You’ll make mistakes because you’re human, and when you do ignore the press and get your head down and learn what you can from them so you’re less likely to repeat them. You’ve already been put on a high pedestal for sure, a symbol of hope and change not just for the US but for a lot of people in the rest of the world who are very relieved that your predecessor’s term has come to an end. Continue what good Pres. Bush has done, and repair what damage has been made…there are a lot of of bridges to be rebuilt between the USA and other countries in the world, and I hope that you will be known as a peacemaker rather than a war starter.
Soak yourself in the Word of God…absorb it….apply it wisely….
I will be praying for you and your family President Obama. You have a tough road ahead of you.
Please pray for my country too. We really need God to raise up someone to lead our country – because right now I feel there is almost no point in voting for a Prime Minister…I don’t think any of our current political party leaders are up for the job (in my not-so-humble-or-gracious opinion!!)
And now I notice the ‘one piece of advice’ – sorry Pete (and everyone else) because I think I just practically wrote an essay there…!
Thank God the national nightmare is over! God speed to president Obama and thank you Jesus!
When Rush comes on the radio or TV turn it off!!
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:39
I could never give him advice, only prayers and support. And I will also be praying for President and Mrs. Bush, both of whom I love, as they move into a more peaceful existence.
Stick to the strengths that helped you run a successful campaign. It’s not about you, it’s about leading America to bring about the change you’ve been talking about.
Don’t be a politician…check you ego at the door…listen to the people in the ditch….be humble….don’t be afraid to ask questions…be honest….Delegate…which falls back to “don’t be a politician.
Remember that all authority is established by God. He is only in the place he is because God allowed it. Therefore, he should “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” and God will empower him and give him the wisdom to fulfill his obligations as President.
Go fishing once in awhile. It helps to restore your soul and re-energize your spirit.
I believe he will be very successful if he strives to upset the left wing of his party.
Don’t worry about pleasing everyone – remember that the right thing is not always popular. And know that those who aren’t in agreement with your politics are the ones who are probably those who are praying for you the most!
From a loan officer’s perspective, practical not spiritual – stimulate the economy by allowing Americans to go one year without paying federal income tax. They will surely spend the extra money. And two – stop Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s fee increases so people can actually refinance mortgages for lower payments without astronomical fees.
Thanks – I feel better now that I could get that off my chest!!!
Spiritual advice – read the above comments.
From Sam…
“Don’t screw it up!”
Great! You’re in, now Prove it!
God’s Speed & Wisdom.
for me – I’m finding it real hard to rise above anything resembling something more than abject apathy as I think that “My give a darn’s busted.” It’s just another president that’s gonna talk all sweet & all to our face while working their hands around your back to reach your wallet. ehh!?
Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech on freedom will not come true until EVERY life is given a chance – the unborn, the about to be born, the sick and dying. Remember that when making your decisions, President Obama. I’m praying God will work this truth into your heart and THAT will be a mighty testimony to the people of this great nation!
Under-promise and over-deliver!
Beoome a Republican! Seriously, become a real, true Christian! Former President Bush was seen many times lying prostate on the floor praying and seeking God’s will. Listen to God’s voice, not as my husband calls them, “the liberal weinies.”
Dear President Obama,
Please send me another stimulus check.
Thanks,
G
I hear you’re looking for a new church. Come to Cross Point… just not the 10:30 AM service please.
remember your promises.
i think he’ll do a fine job. im hoping so at least.
@Paula- respectfully, your comment is ridiculous! I know plenty of Republicans who are not Christians. Republican does not = Christian!!!! close minded beliefs like this are what keep our country divided.
@ashley – whew – I was notified about your comment on my personal email and I thought it was to me – Paula L. – got worried for a moment!!!
I’m Ricky Cook’s sister-in-law and found your blog through Ricky and Carmen. I just cried through the Bush daughter’s video and now feel compelled to offer my belated advice to our new president. I’ve been asked this question several times and I’ve never written down what I have thought each and every time.
If I could offer one piece of advice it would be to CALL OUT FOR GOD’S WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.
I’ve been memorizing Proverbs 2 this month and I everytime I read the first 6 verses I think of our new Commander in Chief:
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:1-6)
Thanks for providing a place to share!
Blessings,
Dori Cook