You can pray...just not to Jesus.

[Sam]

continued from part 2

“O Lord,
As we come together on this historic
And solemn occasion to inaugurate once again
A president and vice president,
Teach us afresh that power, wisdom, and salvation
Come only from Your hand.”

“We pray, O Lord, for
President-elect George W. Bush
And Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney,
To whom You have entrusted leadership
Of this nation at this moment in history.”

“We pray that You will help them bring our country
together,
So that we may rise above partisan politics
And seek the larger vision of Your will for our
nation.
Use them to bring reconciliation between the races
And healing to political wounds,
That we may truly become ‘one nation under God.’”

Our country had never had such a difficult and
potentially divisive presidential election. Many
citizens were bitter and disillusioned by the process
and the outcome. There were more angry demonstrators
protesting on the streets of Washington D.C. than at
any inauguration since the Vietnam War. We needed
supernatural help to forgive one another, to heal
wounds, to move on as a united people.

“Give our new president and all who advise him
Calmness in the Face of Storms,
Encouragement in the Face of Frustration and
Humility in the Face of Success.”

Of course none of us could have realized, when I asked
the Lord to give George W. Bush “calmness in the face
of storms,” just how great a storm would howl eight
months later on Tuesday morning, September 11.

“Give them the wisdom to know, and to do, what is
right,
And the courage to say no to all that is contrary to
Your statutes and holy law.”

“Lord, we pray for their families
And especially their wives,
Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney,
That they may sense Your Presence
And know Your Love.”

“Today we entrust to You
President and Senator Clinton,
And Vice President and Mrs. Gore.”

“Lead them as they journey through new doors of
opportunity to serve others.”

“Now, O Lord, we dedicate this
Presidential Inaugural Ceremony to You.
May this be the beginning of a new dawn for America
As we humble ourselves before You
And acknowledge You alone
As our Lord, Our Savior, and our Redeemer.”

Believing God was directing every word of my prayer, I
had carefully chosen the word “Redeemer.” Naturally, I
was referring to the One who came to give His life for
all who will ever draw breath on this planet. The
redemption He purchased with the sacrifice of His own
blood is available to anyone who will simply accept it
–regardless of creed, nationality, religion, race,
reputation, or personal history. I knew stating that
there is no other Name by which an individual can be
saved would grate on some ears and prick certain
hearts. However, as a minister of the Gospel, I was
not there to stroke he egos of men. My role was to
acknowledge the all-powerful One and please Him. The
Bible says: “Therefore, whoever confesses Me before
men, him I will also confess before My Father who is
in heaven.”

I fear God in a healthy way. I know how proud the
Father is of His Son. As a parent, I know how pleased
my wife, Jane, and I are when someone says something
nice about our children. Would God not have a similar
response? Would He not be pleased to hear us
acknowledge with honor the Name of His beloved Son? I
want to please my Father in heaven no matter the cost.

to be continued in part 4