OCTOBER 22, 2020 | KAREN HARDIN, IFA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lord, we pray that Your presence would be all over this next debate and that You would cover the candidates against any spiritual attacks. May the truth win out.

After the Commission on Presidential Debates decided to change the already agreed upon rules and turn debate #2 into a virtual debate, not surprisingly, President Trump refused the changed format. While the Commission claimed it was due to President Trump’s recent bout with COVID, the president would have been quarantined the required ten days from testing by the time the debate was scheduled on October 15. My question is, if the masks work as they claim, and if social distancing works, as they claim, what was the issue with an in-person debate? Or perhaps, if we are honest, was it actually the bigger issue of a need to protect the opposing candidate who struggles in such a setting?

In any event, what took place was dueling Town Halls. ABC aired a town hall featuring Candidate Biden while NBC aired a town hall featuring President Trump. If it wasn’t safe for the two presidential candidates to face off and debate before a live audience, why was it safe for them to hold a town hall with a moderator, live audience, full camera crew, etc? Nothing was different except Biden didn’t have to face President Trump. Team Biden was correct that it wasn’t safe for Biden to have another face-to-face debate, but the reason had NOTHING to do with COVID.

Now the Commission has decided at the last minute to change the rules yet again before the Oct. 22 debate to mute the mics of the two candidates when it is not their turn to speak. Essentially it provides time for a two-minute uninterrupted memorized response. That’s not a debate. That’s simply a question and answer session.

Additionally, where the final debate has always been on foreign policy, all questions regarding this important issue have been removed. So the American people get to hear NOTHING from the candidates regarding their responses to how they would interact with a foreign government. Perhaps this is because of the emails discovered on Hunter Biden’s computer which reveal Joe and his son, have been receiving kickbacks from foreign governments, namely Ukraine and China? How convenient that the debate won’t cover any of that.

What we will hear more about, which was covered in the first debate and the town hall, is COVID-19. Seriously, does anyone want to hear more on that topic?

Debate Commissioner, Frank Fahrenkopf, when asked about these two changes insisted, “”We do our best here and we’re nonpartisan, we are not biased.”

He also stated, “‘We’re looking for that person who is as unbiased as possible’” to host 2020 debates. I guess that explains why they chose Kristen Welker, NBC News White House correspondent whose family has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates, including Biden’s current campaign, according to a report from the New York Post.

Additionally, in 2012, Welker and her family spent part of their Christmas holiday at the White House with the Obama family according to the Washington Examiner.

But according to Fahrenkopf, she would be a person who is “as unbiased as possible.” Right.

Based on the fact that the two substantive changes in the debate favor one candidate, does anyone believe that? And in light of the fact that Hillary Clinton received copies of the questions prior to her debate with Trump in the 2016 debate, does anyone believe that Team Biden hasn’t received copies of the exact questions so he can memorize his responses?

The first debate was unquestionably a painful experience. My nephew has worked for the Republican National Convention for years. During the debate he texted me off and on with comments regarding the train wreck we all watched. In the end he made an astute comment, “Biden didn’t win, but Trump lost.”

In the two against one misnomer of a debate, neither Trump nor Biden carried themselves as statesmen. The American people deserve the chance to see a rematch where hopefully both men can show us a more presidential side.

By definition a debate means:  to argue, to contend in words, or to discuss a question by considering opposing arguments. That means the discussion may not always be peaceful, but hopefully it will be more civil.

As intercessors, it is urgent that we contend for tonight’s debate–pray for all involved, and for the effect of their words and actions not only on Americans, but other nations who are watching.

Pray:

1. That the rules of debate, already agreed upon by both sides in advance, would not be changed (Mt 5:37).
2. Fairness. This includes the need for a fair moderator. For a fair amount of time to be given to both candidates. That there will be fair questions which are not positioned to the advantage of one side over the other (Prv 11:1).
3. For civility to replace the name-calling that took place on both sides. We want to see men who will act like leaders and statesman, not children (Col 4:6).
4. That the fact-checks that take place at the conclusion will be honest. And that the unfair targeting by the media against one side will be brought to an end. Let us pray for the exposure of lies, so they will not be allowed to hang in the air unchecked (Eph 5:11).
5. Wisdom for viewers, as they watch, to have discernment of what they see and hear (Prv 3:21).
6. That preconceived ideas and the veil of deception would be bound and removed and replaced with understanding, light, and truth (2 Cor 3:16).
7. For a true debate/discussion to take place instead of a fight (Prv 18:13)

President Trump is from Queens and a street fighter. When backed into a corner, especially in a two against one fight, he will always come out punching. It is this very strength that makes him the man for the hour in our nation. He has taken more false accusations, media dog piles, and opposition than any other president in history.

Some have said after the last debate they could never vote for him. Instead I would say, let us pray that a new grace and power will come upon him.

And may we not forget the word Kim Clement prophesied in 2007 of how this man would change:

“This that shall take place shall be the most unusual thing. A transfiguration. A going into the marketplace, if you wish, into the news media where Time magazine will have no choice, but to say what I want them to say. Newsweek, what I want to say. The View, what I want to say.”

“Trump shall become a trumpet,” says the Lord. “Trump shall become a trumpet. I will raise up the Trump to become a trumpet…”

“It shall come to pass that the man that I place in the highest office shall go in whispering my name.” But God said, “When he enters into the office he will be shouting out by the power of the Spirit. For I shall fill him with my spirit when he goes into office and there will be a praying man in the highest seat in your land.”

“There will be a praying president. Not a religious one. For I will fool the people,” says the Lord. “I will fool the people. Yes I will,” God says. “The one that is chosen will go in and they shall say, ‘he has hot blood.’” For the Spirit of God says, “Yes, he may have hot blood, but he will bring the walls of protection on this country in a greater way and the economy of this country shall change rapidly,” says the Lord of hosts.

Listen to the word of the Lord says, “I will put at your helm for two terms a president that will pray. But he will not be a praying president when he starts.  I will put him in office and then I will baptize him with the Holy Spirit and my power says the Lord of hosts.”

We are in the time of the prophetic word. It is up to us to usher in His plans and purpose as we pray.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADDITIONAL ARTICLES

https://ifapray.org/blog/the-presidential-debates-how-to-pray-and-a-prophetic-word/