[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest chaplain, the Reverend Dr. Mark E. Dever, pastor of Capitol 
Hill Baptist Church, Washington, DC, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray:
  Most High God, we begin this day of business by praising You for Your 
infinite wisdom. We know what You've committed to our hands, and our 
own harried schedules, and we turn to You, Lord, and consider Your 
ways, and we marvel at all You do. Thank You, Lord, that in Your 
greatness You care for us. Thank You, Lord, as part of Your care that 
You teach us our need of You. You have invited us in Your word to come 
to You for aid: ``If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who 
gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to 
him.'' We praise You that You do not reproach us for our ignorance, but 
that You invite us to come to You for Your wisdom. So we come to You on 
the basis of Your words and ask for wisdom.
  For questions of international and national needs, for questions 
about personnel and policy, for questions about family and friends, for 
questions about our own personal needs today. Strengthen the people of 
this Nation, O Lord; nourish their lives with wise laws crafted here. O 
Most Wise and Giving God, prevent these servants gathered in this place 
from engendering quiet tyrannies and subtle stiflings of Your will. 
Give Your wisdom we pray particularly today to each Member of this 
Chamber, that as they go about their public business here they would 
work to make laws which bring honor to this place, and not shame, which 
breed respect in the public, and not cynicism, which aid the lives of 
all Your people, rather than inhibit them. Be our guide. Convict and 
comfort as we need. Teach us in all things to rely on You, through 
Jesus Christ. Amen.

                          ____________________