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Christian Living

Beltway Buzz

President Obama's Daily Devotions

President Obama receives a devotion in his inbox every day. Curious about how they read? Beltway Buzz was too so we talked to the man who sends them.

Joshua DuBois has been advising the president on matters of faith since he was a state senator in illinois. For the past four years he served as the president's Pastor-in-Chief and head of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

DuBois recently left that post to focus on teaching and running a new organization designed to help faith organizations partner with the public and private sectors to affect change. He's also writing a book that compiles some of the daily devotions he sends President Obama. Stay tuned for a release date.

Joshua says the "biggest untold story is that this is a president of deep and abiding faith who values his walk with Christ and uses that walk to motivate the work that he does in the world."

Beltway Buzz asked Joshua how he prepares his spiritual words of wisdom for the Commander-in-Chief. Even though he no longer works for the administration, he's still sending devotions.

DUBOIS: You know, I feel blessed. >We had a tremendous run in the White House serving this country and this tremendous president and God has just been so good over the last seven years in service, in government and he's certainly good on the transition out of the White House as well.

BELTWAY BUZZ: You send him daily devotions.

DUBOIS: I do.

BELTWAY BUZZ: No pressure there! Right?

DUBOIS: (laughter)

BELTWAY BUZZ: When you're sitting down in the morning to send the president a devotional - what goes into that?

DUBOIS: Well, fortunately the word of God never goes out and returns void and so there's just this tremendous power in scripture to inspire every morning and so I will pick a verse or two and sometimes add an interpretation of that verse, some times a quote or passage from C.S. Lewis or ... or someone else who tends to inspire.

BELTWAY BUZZ: Did you kind of look at what was coming up or what he was facing? I mean you are friends with him so you have an intimate knowledge of what he's experiencing. Did that go into your preparation.

DUBOIS: There are times when it's key to a particular day, a particular season. For example, I remember after the victory in 2008 there was certainly a devotional full of joy, but after a grueling season I may try to find some reflections on rest and the ability of God to rejuvenate a tired spirit. And I'm also just, quite frankly, grateful for a president who begins his day every morning with scripture. I think that says a lot about Barack Obama as a leader, but also as a man.

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