- 5 months ago
Just hours ago, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson hosted a powerful and solemn event at the U.S. Capitol to observe the National Day of Prayer. The gathering brought together members of Congress, religious leaders, and citizens in a unified moment of reflection and intercession for the nation.
A Call for National Unity and Guidance
Standing in the heart of the Capitol, Speaker Johnson delivered a keynote address that emphasized the historical and spiritual significance of prayer in American governance. He framed the event not just as a tradition, but as a "foundational necessity" for the country's future.
"We come together today to acknowledge our dependence on God and to seek His wisdom for the challenges we face," Speaker Johnson told the attendees. "In moments of great division, prayer serves as the bridge that reminds us of our shared humanity and our common purpose."
Key Moments from the Event
The ceremony featured several poignant elements designed to reflect the diverse spiritual fabric of the country:
Scripture Readings: Various Members of Congress took turns reading passages that focused on themes of justice, peace, and humble leadership.
Intercessory Prayers: Specific prayers were offered for the safety of the military, the wisdom of the judiciary, and the healing of communities struggling with economic and social hardships.
A Focus on the Future: Much of the rhetoric focused on the next generation, with Speaker Johnson calling for a "renewal of spirit" among America's youth.
The Speaker’s Personal Reflections
As a leader known for his deeply held faith, Speaker Johnson shared personal insights into how prayer guides his daily decision-making process in the halls of power.
"Leadership without prayer is like a ship without a compass," Johnson remarked. "Today, we set aside our political differences to ask for a 'spirit of understanding' to fall upon this Capitol and this land."
Historical Context
The National Day of Prayer, designated by the U.S. Congress in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. Speaker Johnson’s hosting of this year's event continues a long-standing tradition of legislative leaders inviting the divine into the work of the people.
The Atmosphere at the Capitol
Witnesses described the event as "reverent and hopeful," a stark contrast to the often-heated political debates that occur in the same building. The event concluded with a musical performance of "God Bless America," leaving the crowd with a message of resilience and faith.
A Call for National Unity and Guidance
Standing in the heart of the Capitol, Speaker Johnson delivered a keynote address that emphasized the historical and spiritual significance of prayer in American governance. He framed the event not just as a tradition, but as a "foundational necessity" for the country's future.
"We come together today to acknowledge our dependence on God and to seek His wisdom for the challenges we face," Speaker Johnson told the attendees. "In moments of great division, prayer serves as the bridge that reminds us of our shared humanity and our common purpose."
Key Moments from the Event
The ceremony featured several poignant elements designed to reflect the diverse spiritual fabric of the country:
Scripture Readings: Various Members of Congress took turns reading passages that focused on themes of justice, peace, and humble leadership.
Intercessory Prayers: Specific prayers were offered for the safety of the military, the wisdom of the judiciary, and the healing of communities struggling with economic and social hardships.
A Focus on the Future: Much of the rhetoric focused on the next generation, with Speaker Johnson calling for a "renewal of spirit" among America's youth.
The Speaker’s Personal Reflections
As a leader known for his deeply held faith, Speaker Johnson shared personal insights into how prayer guides his daily decision-making process in the halls of power.
"Leadership without prayer is like a ship without a compass," Johnson remarked. "Today, we set aside our political differences to ask for a 'spirit of understanding' to fall upon this Capitol and this land."
Historical Context
The National Day of Prayer, designated by the U.S. Congress in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. Speaker Johnson’s hosting of this year's event continues a long-standing tradition of legislative leaders inviting the divine into the work of the people.
The Atmosphere at the Capitol
Witnesses described the event as "reverent and hopeful," a stark contrast to the often-heated political debates that occur in the same building. The event concluded with a musical performance of "God Bless America," leaving the crowd with a message of resilience and faith.
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NewsTranscript
00:00The perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched
00:09were so gallantly streaming.
00:15And rocket air, the bombs bursting in air
00:25Gave proof through the night that I'm never still there
00:35O say lies that star-spangled, may they yet wave
00:47O'er the land of the tree
00:53O'er the home of the brave
01:00O'er the color of
01:04We have asked the color guard to please remain here
01:07as Lieutenant General Kicklighter comes to pray for our military.
01:11Please remain standing.
01:31Let us pray.
01:34Almighty God, we thank you for this great nation of America
01:39and for 250 years of freedom.
01:44This morning, we pray for our military.
01:49Those who have served this nation are veterans,
01:52those who are serving,
01:54and those that we will call to serve in the future.
02:00Lord, we thank you for our founding fathers who risked it all
02:05when they drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence.
02:10That courageous act established the American Republic,
02:17one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
02:24Thank you for that covenant, Lord.
02:27And we remember those who answered the call to serve in the Revolutionary Army.
02:34They were unprepared, ill-trained, and ill-equipped.
02:40And they faced the most powerful army and navy in the world.
02:44The odds of victory were staggering.
02:49And yet, through their faith,
02:52strong desire for freedom and independence,
02:56and Lord, with your blessings,
02:58they won that war.
03:01And that victory gave the birth of this strong and free
03:05and beautiful America that we live in every day.
03:11Lord, we're so grateful for the service and sacrifice
03:15of our military throughout our history.
03:19We especially remember those who fought our wars.
03:23the war of independence.
03:26The Civil War.
03:28World War I.
03:30World War II.
03:33The Korean War.
03:34The Vietnam War.
03:36Desert Storm.
03:38Afghanistan.
03:39Iraq.
03:41The Middle East and Iran.
03:43And many others throughout our history.
03:47Lord, today we especially remember
03:51those who did not return from those wars.
03:55Those that gave all their tomorrows.
03:58And that's a very high price to pay
04:01when you're so very young.
04:03And most were.
04:07Lord, we especially remember our military families.
04:11They are so special.
04:14And they do so much for our nation.
04:16They are truly our unsung heroes.
04:21And Lord, today we remember our gold star families.
04:26They lost loved ones in our wars.
04:30And they know that freedom is not free.
04:35Lord, as we think about the sacrifice and service of so many.
04:40We pray that you will help us live lives that are worthy.
04:46And Lord, as we think about that special gift of freedom.
04:50We just pray that you will guide us.
04:52So that we can pass that gift on to our children.
04:56Our grandchildren.
04:58And future generations.
05:02Lord, you say in scripture.
05:05And as President Abraham Lincoln quoted.
05:09A house divided cannot stand.
05:13And Lord, we pray for a revival in this nation.
05:16To guide us back to our faith.
05:19The purpose of this nation.
05:21The covenant.
05:23The principles.
05:26One nation under God.
05:29Indivisible.
05:31And this morning, Lord,
05:33we have our military in harm's way.
05:36In the Middle East and Iran.
05:38And we pray for them.
05:41We pray protection.
05:42We pray that you will bring them home.
05:45And Lord, we pray for peace throughout the Middle East.
05:52We pray for just and lasting peace in Israel.
05:58And in Afghanistan.
06:01In Israel.
06:04And Ukraine.
06:07And Lord, we're so grateful for the many blessings you've bestowed upon this great nation.
06:14And may we live lives that is a blessing to you, Lord.
06:19All this we ask in the name of Jesus.
06:23Amen.
06:25Will you please express your gratitude to our military present and former.
07:16You may be seated.
07:17Good morning, everyone.
07:19We are so grateful to have you here today on the 75th observance of the National Day of Prayer since
07:26it became a law.
07:27I want that just to soak in with you for just a moment as we think of the tens of
07:33thousands of gatherings that will be happening across this nation today, hosted by our task force and pastors across the
07:41nation.
07:41Over 19,000 of our coordinators have planned multiple prayer gatherings from sea to shining sea.
07:49And we are so grateful today thinking about the millions of prayers that have filled those golden bowls in heaven
07:57over all of these years.
07:59And we are grateful that you are joining us today to add your prayer for neighbor and nation as we
08:07glorify God among the nations and seek him in all generations.
08:13This year's prayer theme coming from 1 Chronicles 1624 where we are told to tell of his glory among the
08:22nations, his good deeds to all people.
08:26And that theme of today will run through as we give him glory in worship and singing and honoring our
08:33military and one another as we pray and intercede for one another.
08:39As we speak God's word and share our hearts and dedicate or rededicate our lives personally as a precursor to
08:50what we are so excited will be happening on May 17th.
08:54As our president, members of our government rededicate our nation as one nation under God.
09:05And so we prepare our hearts today in this time of dedication, maybe even for the first time for some
09:13of you or a time of rededication of thinking about what it means to live a life glorifying God.
09:25And so we have been blessed with many distinguished guests today to speak and to pray.
09:33And we will begin this time with our dear friend, Oz Guinness.
09:40I always tell people he's going to come try to knock me off the stage.
09:44But Oz, you know that I always think of Deuteronomy 7-9 when I think of you.
09:49Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God who keeps his covenant and his loving
09:56kindness to a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments.
10:04Oz has done many great things, written many great books, but what I know him to be is a man
10:10who loves God and keeps his command.
10:14Please welcome Oz Guinness.
10:23The American Republic owes everything to the Hebrew Republic and the rediscovery in the 17th century of the notion of
10:35covenant.
10:36As you may know, in the revolutionary era, the most quoted book was not John Locke or Cicero or Thomas
10:47Hobbes or Montesquieu.
10:49It was the book of Deuteronomy, the renewal of the Sinai covenant.
10:57And we read from Deuteronomy chapter 29.
11:03These are the words of the covenant which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in
11:12the land of Moab,
11:14besides the covenant which he had made with them at Horeb.
11:20And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them,
11:24You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh and all
11:33his servants and all his land.
11:37The great trials which your eyes have seen, those great signs and wonders.
11:45Yet to this day, the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears
11:53to hear.
11:55I have led you forty years in the wilderness.
12:00Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandal has not worn out on your foot.
12:07You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, in order that you might know that
12:17I am the Lord your God.
12:21When you reach this place, Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, came out to Medeus
12:29for battle.
12:31But we defeated them, and we took their land, and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites,
12:41and the half-tribe of the Monasmites.
12:45So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
12:57You stand today, all of you, before the Lord your God, your chiefs, your tribes, your elders, and your officers.
13:10Even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your little ones, your wives, and the alien which is within
13:19your camps.
13:20From the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water.
13:26In order that you may enter into the covenant with the Lord your God, and into his oath, which the
13:36Lord your God is making with you today.
13:41In order that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, just as
13:52he spoke to you, and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
14:02Now, not with you alone am I making this covenant and this oath, but both with those who stand here
14:11with us today, and with those who are not with us here today.
14:19The word of the Lord.
14:29We are so grateful to have people from all different nations today.
14:35And for our incredible speaker, Mike Johnson.
14:40He's the 56th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Republican member of Congress who's serving Louisiana's
14:48fourth district.
14:50He is the first person from Louisiana ever elected into this position.
14:55Speaker Johnson was elected to his post after serving less than, much less than, seven years in the House,
15:03making him the second fastest person to ever receive this honor.
15:09Former Speaker Newt Gingrich describes Speaker Johnson's tenure as the most challenging speakership since the Civil War, more than 160
15:17years ago.
15:19And all God's people said.
15:23Respected for his leadership internationally,
15:25Speaker Johnson is the first U.S. Speaker to ever be invited to address the British Parliament.
15:31We so enjoyed seeing you with the King and the Queen last week, sir.
15:36He's only the third to be invited to address the Israeli Knesset.
15:41Thank you, my friend, for glorifying God, for being a champion of prayer.
15:48We could stand up here and talk about you all day, but I know you'd rather talk about God.
15:52So please welcome the Speaker of the House, Speaker Mike Johnson.
16:03Thanks so much, Kathy and all of you.
16:05It's so good to see you, especially today on this 75th anniversary of the formal National Day of Prayer.
16:12Now, prayer's been a part of our DNA since the very beginning, as you know, so it's fitting that we
16:17do this.
16:19This formal tradition, as you know, was established by Congress at the height of the Cold War,
16:24and it reaffirms something that's so important that really goes to the heart of who we are as Americans.
16:31We are a praying nation. We always have been. It truly is part of who we are.
16:37We know that prayer is where the impossible happens.
16:41We know it's where we find solace and stay anchored in our faith, even through challenges and even through the
16:47storms.
16:48And that is indeed how we have endured.
16:51It's fitting that we're here in beautiful Statuary Hall, which, as you all know, was the original house chamber.
16:57It's fitting that as you walk around the Capitol here, and we're so happy to welcome you today,
17:01that you'll see vestiges, reminders of the deep religious heritage of our country.
17:07You'll see reminders of our deep Judeo-Christian traditions, our foundations, our biblical foundations.
17:14That's what makes America unique and extraordinary.
17:17Just about 100 feet or so here, if you went through the rotunda and took a left,
17:22and you would go down the hallway where my office is, the speaker's office on one side.
17:27On the other side is the Senate Majority Leader's office.
17:30And right in the middle of that is a chapel that was erected about the same time, built and established
17:38there about the same time as the National Day of Prayer became a formal piece of our law.
17:45And as you walk in there, many of you have been in there before, I invite you to go visit
17:49it.
17:49Your eyes will be drawn up to this beautiful original stained glass piece.
17:54It's one of a kind.
17:55I think it's the most beautiful I've ever seen.
17:57And in that stained glass, right in the center, is depicted the father of our country, George Washington.
18:03He is humbled before the Lord down on one knee.
18:06And he's praying.
18:07And it says the words surrounding him are from Psalm 16.1.
18:12And it says,
18:13Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.
18:18Preserve me.
18:19That's what the father of our country said.
18:22That's what we still echo today.
18:23And, of course, that passage of Scripture is a restatement of our national motto, in God we trust.
18:32And, by the way, if you come with us to the House chamber, the current House chamber,
18:36you'll see that Congress also, many years back, also during the height of the Cold War,
18:42decided to put, to engrave permanently, the national motto right above the head of the Speaker of the House in
18:48the rostrum,
18:49as a permanent reminder.
18:51In fact, it says in the Visitor's Guide to the House chamber, somewhere about on page 21,
18:56it says what that was for and says Congress put that there as a rebuke to the Soviets because of
19:03their philosophy.
19:04They did it during the height of the Cold War.
19:08Communism, Marxism, Socialism begin with the premise that there is no God.
19:12And Congress wanted to make sure that all future generations understood that is not who we are.
19:19And these are reminders that they were there long before the practice of public prayer was formally enshrined in the
19:27law.
19:28Before we did all that, it was immortalized in the hearts of the American people and in the founders of
19:34our very nation.
19:35It wasn't just George Washington.
19:38From the first harvest at Plymouth, to the blood-stained battlefields at Bunker Hill,
19:44to the whispered prayers of pioneers who were moving westward,
19:47the long arc of American history has been charted by the prayers of God-fearing people, God-fearing American citizens.
19:57This 75th annual National Day of Prayer comes at a unique time in the history of our country, of course.
20:03We're also celebrating the 250th anniversary of this grand experiment in self-governance.
20:10For Americans of faith, it's a time for us to come together and to pray for our nation, of course,
20:14and so it is so fitting that we do this right now.
20:17It's also a time to reflect on the great moral inheritance of which every American citizen across every generation has
20:26been the humble recipient.
20:28That inheritance goes back to the very idea upon which our nation was founded.
20:33We boldly proclaimed the self-evident truth that our rights do not come from government.
20:39They come from God himself.
20:41That he is the one that has endowed us with our inalienable rights,
20:45that among those are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
20:49Right there in the second paragraph in the nation's birth certificate,
20:52it summarizes our national statement of faith.
20:55The founders made that bold declaration, and that was the foundation that made us become the most free,
21:03most successful, most powerful, most benevolent nation on the history of the planet.
21:08It's not even close.
21:09Our founders did their best to set up our nation in accordance with his guidelines and principles,
21:13and, my friends, that is why God has blessed America for 250 years.
21:18But the faith of our founders didn't just shape the character of our civic institutions.
21:23It steeled the American spirit, and it strengthened the fabric of our public life through our highest highs and our
21:29lowest lows.
21:31So it's only natural that today we reflect on this experiment and liberty and how best to maintain it,
21:36how to keep this grand experiment in self-governance, how to keep the Republic.
21:41And we follow our founders, and we seek his guidance, God's guidance, through the words of Scripture and the invocation
21:49of prayer.
21:50The theme of this year's National Day of Prayer is not rhetorical.
21:53It says, tell of God's glory among the nations, his good deeds to all people.
21:59As Americans of faith, we see that as our responsibility.
22:04We can never know what tomorrow brings, of course, but God calls us to be faithful and to proclaim his
22:09good deeds.
22:10And on this grand anniversary in particular, we have a great opportunity.
22:15We should use this the entire year as a teachable moment to pass along to the next generation of Americans
22:21who we are,
22:23what we're about, and why we are this great country.
22:27So as you pray for our country today, we thank God for his acts of salvation and provision and deliverance.
22:34Let's also pray that we may have the strength, just as our founders did,
22:37to hand the baton of faith and freedom on to the next generation that follows us,
22:42a generation that cherishes liberty and proclaims proudly what is right and good and true.
22:50Thank you for being here.
23:06We are so grateful to have him here today, realizing that Congress is on recess.
23:11You know they don't really recess, right?
23:13You know they go home and they work, and we are so grateful to so many of our congressional members
23:18who we know are participating in their local national day of prayer.
23:24And so now we come to a time of thanksgiving.
23:28Understand that there were only three nations that we know of in the world that began in covenant with God.
23:37Of course, Israel being the first that comes to mind.
23:43Switzerland is another one, but the United States is the third.
23:48It says in our Mayflower Compact, even, that we would be established that this country would be run in the
24:01name of God, by the grace of God, to the glory of God.
24:07And so we have to come and pray prayers of thanksgiving today.
24:13Very fittingly, the rabbi of the oldest Jewish congregation here in the United States, Rabbi Soloveitchik.
24:23We have practiced that.
24:26We are so grateful to have him today and to have Pastor James Ward join us.
24:33He and his wife, Sharon, are the senior pastors at Insight Church just outside Chicago, and he is the CEO
24:41of TLN Ministries.
24:43Please welcome these gentlemen.
25:03We bono shalolam, almighty God, as pilgrims ascended to your house in Jerusalem millennia
25:13ago, they sang a sublime psalm known as Mizmor L'todah, a song of thanksgiving.
25:24They sang,
25:32Know ye that the Lord is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
25:39We are his people, sheep of his pasture.
25:44Ba'u sharav betoda chaterotav betila, enter into his gates with thanksgiving, his courts
25:52with praise.
25:53We thank you, God, as Americans, part of a people founded with a covenantal creed that
26:03we are all made equally in your image.
26:07We enter the gates of this, the heart of our democracy, with thanksgiving, as we bear in
26:16our hearts the memory of those that have sacrificed so that we might be free.
26:23Avinu of Harachaman, our most merciful Father, we ask your assistance in always acknowledging
26:30that you have made us.
26:33remembering the self-evident truth that we are endowed with equality by you, our creator, so
26:43that the story of America will continue to inspire so many to speak the words with which Jerusalem's
26:53Pilgrims concluded their song.
27:01For the Lord is good, his mercy everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.
27:17In Psalms 100, verse 4, God commands us to enter his gates with thanksgiving and enter his courts with
27:23praise, to be thankful to him and bless his name.
27:26Please join me as we pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God.
27:31Our Father in heaven, in this 75th year of the National Day of Prayer, this 250th year of America's existence,
27:39and on behalf of 350 million American people all across our beloved nation and around the world,
27:47we humbly stand together to remember that you are creator of heaven and earth,
27:52and that every good and perfect gift comes from you alone.
27:57You are God who gives us life and breath in all things.
28:01We reflect on how you so love the world that you gave your only begotten Son,
28:07that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
28:12And we respond wholeheartedly today with profound thanksgiving,
28:17acknowledging that you alone are worthy of all glory and praise.
28:22Your word commands us to offer thanksgiving in everything,
28:27for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.
28:31We thank you for revealing your love to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ,
28:37for in him we have redemption through his blood,
28:40the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.
28:45We give you thanks today because you are faithful, you are holy, and you are righteous.
28:51We thank you because you are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy.
28:58We thank you that it is through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed because your compassions fail not.
29:06Father, we thank you for our families.
29:08We thank you for the restoration of strong and godly marriages in our nation.
29:13We thank you for restoring the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers.
29:20Thank you for comforting and caring for widows and orphans.
29:24Thank you for our president, his family, his cabinet, and his staff.
29:29Thank you for every member of Congress, for every Supreme Court justice,
29:33for every state and local government official and their families.
29:36We thank you that Satan's power and influence and every curse over their lives is broken
29:42and that no weapon formed against them will prosper in the mighty name of Jesus.
29:48We thank you for every member of law enforcement and every first responder.
29:52We thank you for every American soldier and every branch of our military around the world and their families.
29:58We thank you for every veteran and for those who paid the ultimate price in giving their lives
30:04that we may stand here today and freely call upon your name.
30:09Lord, we thank you for peace in America and for the peace of Jerusalem,
30:14for peace in Israel and Iran, and for bringing peace among all nations of the world.
30:20Father, thank you for giving us faithful pastors, priests, rabbis, and spiritual shepherds
30:26to guide, equip, and strengthen our nation spiritually, morally, and ethically.
30:31Thank you for ethnic, racial, political, and ideological healing and reconciliation in our nation.
30:38Thank you for blessing our economy, our businesses, our schools and universities,
30:44our farmers and our crops, our technology and our innovation.
30:47And Father, we thank you that yours is the kingdom, that your kingdom would come
30:52and your will would be done here on earth.
30:55Thank you that you deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever
31:02in the name that is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
31:07And together we all said, amen.
31:17Amen.
31:19Now we come to a time of confession.
31:22Confession is very personal.
31:25When you really think about it, the Bible says that we can go to our brother, we can go to
31:30our sister,
31:31and we can speak to them if they are sinning.
31:36But it's up to us to confess.
31:38No one can confess for you.
31:40It really just becomes an accusation and sometimes sliding into gossip.
31:48We're going to take this time of personal confession.
31:52I cannot confess for you, but boy, we could be all day here if I confessed all my sins.
32:00But aren't we grateful to have a God who forgives when we ask forgiveness?
32:08And so in these first moments, I will lead us in a time of my personal confession,
32:13and if something strikes your heart, and then we will have a moment of silence
32:19as the Lord seeks you and you confess as well.
32:27Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth,
32:30I thank you.
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