Ben Carson Says 'Power of God' Inspired 2016 Presidential Run

Conservative darling and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson has announced he may run for U.S. president in the 2016 presidential elections. | (Photo: Reuters/Mike Theiler)

2016 presidential hopeful Ben Carson, an outspoken evangelical Christian, has suggested the "power of God" has inspired him to pursue the U.S. presidency.

In a recent interview with "Marcus and Joni" on the DayStar network, Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, started with saying that he never really intended to run for president, describing how his initial plan was to retire in Florida with his wife, Candy, after he left the medical profession.

Carson then went on to describe how he was encouraged by supporters to run for president, saying that he would follow God's plan for him.

"The draft movement built and I finally said, 'Lord, I don't particularly want to do this, this is not on my bucket list, but if you want me to do it, you open the doors and I'll walk through them. If you close the doors, I'll sit down,'" Carson said during the recent interview. "And, the doors began flying open, much to the consternation of all the professional class and all the pundits who said 'it is impossible, you can't possibly put together a national organization as a political neophyte. You don't know any of the people, there is no money. You can't do it. It is impossible. Forget about it.'"

"And yet, you see it is happening and they don't understand the power of God," Carson continued.

Carson has long been outspoken about his Christian faith and is a favorite among evangelical voters, recently telling WND that he believes it is "time to bring God back into our country."

"Our faith gives us our freedom," Carson added.