[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 8 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest chaplain, the Reverend Mark Edward Dever, Ph.D., offered 
the following prayer:
  Let us pray:
  O God Most Holy, we come to You this morning acknowledging You as the 
holy ruler of people and nations. We give You thanks for all the ways 
in which our Nation, and this Chamber reflect Your character. Thank you 
for all the trials endured, time spent, and effort expended for our 
benefit in this place. We thank you because we know that none of us can 
do anything apart from Your sustaining power.
  Our request this morning is that You would save this Nation from 
lawlessness. We read that righteousness exalts a nation, but that sin 
is a reproach to any people. We confess that we as a people seem to be 
more concerned about riches than righteousness, more worried about 
poverty than sin, more willing to deny You than to deny self.
  O Lord, change us for Your glory. In Your mercy entrust this country 
with material prosperity; but also in Your mercy, we pray that You 
would not allow us to go on in such prosperity and sin. Give us true 
prosperity of heart and soul.
  In Your grace make this place an exception to the corrupting pull of 
power. Make this Chamber a shining light, a city set on a hill, filled 
with men and women who individually, in their dealings with one 
another, and together in their execution of the public business are 
examples to us all. Help them so that we may live peaceful and quiet 
lives in all godliness and holiness.
  We dare to ask for special blessings, and for special help to use 
those blessings You have already given to us. Bless Your people with 
power entrusted to those who know their own weakness, with rulers who 
are servants, with freedom under God, in the name of Jesus Christ, the 
servant-king, we ask it. Amen.


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