[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 17, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest chaplain, the Reverend Mark E. Dever, offered the following 
prayer:
  Let us pray:
  Great, all powerful God, we come to You this morning first in 
acknowledgment of Your greatness. We know that you have no need of us, 
that you are in no way dependent on our actions, that Your existence 
awaits no vote of this Chamber, nor our own personal assent.
  We praise You that, being the One whom You are, out of Your love You 
have made us in Your image, as creatures who, like Yourself, want to 
know and be known.
  Thank You for the way we see that in our personal lives and in our 
society. Thank You for those who have gone before who have taught us 
something of what it means to live together as one nation. We pray that 
You would today help this body in its deliberations. You know, Lord, 
the pressures of time and public expectation, the good motives, on both 
sides of the aisle, to help the people of this land.
  We ask that in this Chamber of debate, You would help each one who 
speaks remember the account that she or he will give not only to their 
colleagues here and the voters, but to their own consciences and most 
of all, to You, Lord.
  We know that the secrets of our hearts are entirely discovered to 
You, and we praise You that You do not allow us to hide ourselves 
completely from You.
  We ask that You would give a measure of Your wisdom to these gathered 
here today. Help them to pass laws that ennoble rather than enervate 
the people. Give them wisdom to speak today with the liberty of knowing 
that they are about purposes, that are not only great, but that are 
also good.
  For those who are discouraged, finding only emptiness amid all the 
success which the world tells them they have, show them Yourself.
  For those who are swollen with pride, in Your love, break them that 
You might bind them up; wound them, that You might heal them again.
  Thank You for the freedom of speech which we enjoy in this land. Help 
these Senators today to use that freedom realizing the privilege that 
it is, for our good and for Your glory.
  In Christ's name we ask it. Amen.
  

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