[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain offered the following prayer:
  Oh, gracious and eternal God who rules Heaven and Earth and has been 
with all of us from the very beginning of time, You have never left us. 
As you stated in Your word, ``Lo I am with you always even unto the end 
of the world'' (Matthew 28:20). We thank You. We also thank You for 
America, the greatest Nation founded upon the belief ``In God we 
trust.''
  God, I pray no prayer that You have not heard before. I speak no 
words that have never been uttered. Ezekiel 22:30 says, ``And I sought 
for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the 
gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found 
none.'' God, as Your servant, I stand in the gap and pray an 
intercessory prayer of faith, hope, and love. I pray for these men and 
women who are elected to serve Your people in the U.S. Senate as they 
deliberate and make tough and sometimes unpopular decisions that affect 
all of us who live in the land of the free. I Timothy 2:1-2 says, ``I 
exhort, therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, 
intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings and 
for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful 
life in all godliness and honesty.'' I pray that You empower each 
Member with Your vision and courage as they seek to continue making 
this Nation the greatest nation on Earth.
  God, let us remember that You are the Author and Finisher of our 
faith. Let us also remember You are our Father, and You have the last 
word. Amen.

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