[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5875]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Gracious God, these days here in the Senate are filled with crucial 
issues, differences on solutions, and vital votes on legislation. We 
begin this session with the question You asked King Solomon, ``Ask! 
What shall I give You?'' We empathize with Solomon's answer. He asked 
for an ``understanding heart.'' We are moved with a more precise 
translation of the Hebrew words for ``understanding heart,'' meaning a 
``hearing heart.''
  Solomon wanted to hear a word from You about the perplexities that he 
faced. He longed for the gift of wisdom so that he could have answers 
and direction for his people. We are inspired by Your response, ``See, 
I have given you a wise and listening heart.''
  I pray nothing less as You answer this urgent prayer for the women 
and men of this Senate. Help them to listen to Your guidance and grant 
them wisdom for their debates and decisions. All through our history as 
a Nation You have made good men and women great when they humbled 
themselves, confessed their need for Your wisdom, and listened intently 
to You. Speak Lord; we need to hear Your voice in the cacophony of 
other voices. We are listening. You are our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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