    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 1, 2007]
    [Pages 90-91]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast
    February 1, 2007

        Thank you all. Thank you very much. Now will you please join me in
    singing ``The Eyes of Texas.'' [Laughter]
        Good morning. Laura and I are honored to join
    you here at the 55th National Prayer Breakfast. You know, it's an
    amazing country, isn't it, when people from all walks of life gather to
    recognize our dependence on an Almighty God, and to ask Him for
    blessings in our life. I think a breakfast such as this speaks to the
    true strength of the United States of America.
        We come from many different faiths, yet we share this profound
    conviction: We believe that God listens to the voice of His children and
    pours His grace upon those who seek Him in prayer. I appreciate, Mr.
    Congressman, you and Jo Ann Davis for leading this prayer breakfast. And thanks for
    paying tribute to my wife.
        I appreciate the Speaker's presence,
    Congressman Hoyer's presence, Congressman
    Blunt's presence. I want to thank all the Members
    of the Senate and the House of Representatives who have joined us. I
    appreciate the fact that we've got Governors here, local officials, and
    State officials. I thank the members of my Cabinet for joining us. Don't
    linger, you've got a job to do. [Laughter] I thank the military
    officials who have joined us, distinguished dignitaries. Mr. Prime
    Minister, we are glad you're here. Thank you for
    joining us.
        I appreciate Dr. Collins. I want to
    thank Reverend Mucci and his wife
    Kathy. I appreciate Nicole Mullen. But most of all, thank you all.
        We are a nation of prayer; America prays. Each day, millions of our
    citizens bow their heads in silence and solitude, or they offer up
    prayers in fellowship with others. They pray for themselves; they pray
    for their families; they pray for their neighbors and their communities.
    In many congregations and homes across this great land, people also set
    a time--set aside time to pray for our Nation and those entrusted with
    authority, including our elected leaders.
        In my travels, I often see hand-printed signs and personal messages
    from citizens that carry words of prayer. Sometimes it's a single little
    girl holding up a placard that reads: ``Mr. President, be encouraged;
    you are prayed for.'' Sometimes it's a banner held by a group of young
    people that says, ``We are praying for you, Mr. President.'' I often
    hear similar words when I meet people on a ropeline. Isn't that
    interesting? You're working a ropeline and people come up and say, ``Mr.
    President, I am praying for you and your family.''
        The greatest gift a citizen of this country can give those of us
    entrusted with political office is to pray for us. And I thank those in
    our Nation who lift all of us up in prayer.
        Our troops must understand that every day--every day--millions of
    our citizens lift them up in prayer. We pray for their safety; we pray
    for their families they have left at home; we pray for those who have
    been wounded, for their comfort and recovery. We remember those who have
    been lost, and we pray that their loved ones feel the healing touch of
    the Almighty. During this time of war, we thank God that we are part of
    a nation that produces courageous men and women who volunteer to defend
    us.
        Many in our country know the power of prayer. Prayer changes hearts,
    prayer changes lives, and prayer makes us a more compassionate and
    giving people. When we pray, we surrender our will to the Almighty and
    open ourselves up to His priorities and His touch. His call to love our
    neighbors as we would like to be loved ourselves is something that we
    hear when we pray. And we answer that call by reaching out to feed

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    the hungry and clothe the poor and aid the widow and the orphan. By
    helping our brothers and sisters in need, we find our own faith
    strengthened and we receive the grace to lead lives of dignity and
    purpose.
        We see this grace in the life of a young American named Shannon
    Hickey. Shannon was one of Laura's guests at the State of the Union. When Shannon was
    growing up, her favorite priest was Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain with
    the New York City Fire Department. Father Mychal helped Shannon and her
    family through Shannon's struggle with liver disease. On September the
    11th, 2001, Father Mychal lost his life in the World Trade Center. In
    memory of her friend, Shannon founded Mychal's Message, a nonprofit
    organization dedicated to sharing Father Mychal's loving spirit. Over
    the last 5 years, Mychal's Message has collected and distributed more
    than 100,000 needed items to the poor and the homeless. With each gift
    to the needy, Shannon encloses a card with Father Mychal's personal
    prayer. It reads: ``Lord, take me where you want me to go, let me meet
    who you want me to meet, tell me what you want me to say, and keep me
    out of your way.'' [Laughter]
        Father Mychal's humble prayer reminds us of an eternal truth: In the
    quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares, and we take up the cares
    of the Almighty. And in answering His call to service, we find that, in
    the words of Isaiah: ``We will gain new strength. We will run and not
    get tired. We will walk and not become weary.''
        And so I thank you for joining us on this day of prayer. I thank you
    for the tradition you continue here today. And I ask for God's blessings
    on the United States of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:45 a.m. at the Hilton Washington Hotel.
    In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri;
    Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize; Francis S. Collins, director,
    National Human Genome Research Institute; Rev. Dan Mucci, Jr., senior
    pastor, Abundant Life Church, Glen Burnie, MD, and his wife Kathy; and
    entertainer Nicole C. Mullen.