[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray.
  Eternal Father, our help and our hope, we honor Your Name. Lord, 
often when we need You most, we find it difficult to come to You. 
Sometimes we do not come because we are impressed with our own strength 
and don't feel any need. Sometimes our failure and sin blocks the path 
to You. Either way, Lord, it is pride that deprives us of Your 
blessings and favor. Forgive us, Lord, for finding it difficult to 
understand and accept the unmerited favor of Your grace.
  Today, as our lawmakers reach out their hands to accept Your grace, 
free them to do Your will. Help them to see You are a Friend who can 
keep them strong and turn their sorrow into singing. Lead and guide 
them so that Your Name will be honored. Amen.

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