2005 Inaugural Prayer by Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.
Oh Lord God Almighty, the supply and supplier of faith [Romans 10:17] and freedom [John 8:36], how excellent is Your name in all the earth. [Psalm 8:1.] You are great and greatly to be praised. [1 Chron. 16:25.] God, as we conclude this 55th inaugural ceremony, we conclude it with an attitude of thanksgiving. [Psalm 26:7; Psalm 50:14.] Thank You for protecting America's borders. [Psalm 16:1; 20:1; 59:1; 83:3; 140:1; 140:4 NRSV] After all, the Psalmist reminds us, unless You, O God, guard the territory, our efforts will be in vain. [Psalm 127:1.]
"Thank You for our armed service personnel. And it is with unswerving thanksgiving that we pause to remember the persons who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help ensure America's safety. [John 15:13.] Thank You, O God, for surrounding our personnel, their families, their friends and our allies with Your favor and Your faithfulness. [Deut. 7:9; Psalm 31:23; Psalm 36:5; Matt.
8:13.]
"Deploy Your hosts from heaven [Zech. 9:15 NRSV] so that Your will for America will be performed on earth as it is already perfected in heaven [Matt. 6:10]. I confess that Your face will shine upon the United States of America [Psalm 31:16; Psalm 67:1], granting us social peace and economic prosperity, particularly for the weary and the poor. [Job 5:15,16; Psalm 35:10; Psalm 40:17; Isaiah 35:3-4]
"I also confess, God, that each American's latter days will be better than their former days. [Jer. 5:24; Joel 2:23-27.] Let it be unto us according to Your Word. [Haggai 2:9]
"Rally the Republicans, the Democrats and the Independents around Your common good so that America will truly become one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty, justice and equal opportunity for all -- including the least [Luke 9:48; Heb. 8:11], the last and the lost [Matt. 18:11].
"Bless every elected official right now. [1 Tim. 2:2.] God, I declare Your blessings to shower upon our president, George W. Bush. Bless him, his family and his administration. I once again declare that no weapon formed against them shall prosper. [Isaiah 54:17.]
"God, forgive us [Matt. 6:12] for becoming so ensnarled in petty partisan politics that we miss Your glory and block our purpose. [Psalm 106:5; Isaiah 40:5; John 11:40.] Deliver us from the evil one, from evil itself and from the mere appearance of evil. [Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4; Gal. 1:4; 2; Tim. 4:18.]
"Give us clean hearts [Psalm 24:4-5; Psalm 51:10], so that we might have clean agendas, clean priorities and programs and even clean financial statements. [James 4:8]
"Now, unto You, O God, the One who always has been and always will be [Gen. 1:1; Rev. 22:13], the one King of kings [Jer. 10:10; Deut. 10:17; 1 Tim. 6:13; Rev. 17:14] and the true power broker [Matt. 6:13], we glorify and honor You [Psalm 148:13; Ephesians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:7].
Respecting persons of all faiths, I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ [John 14:13]. Amen."
Whether by design or by inspiration, Rev. Caldwell's prayer echoed the very words with which President George W. Bush had just concluded his inaugural address: "May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America."
That, in itself, was a prayer.
Received from Paul Heil of the Gospel Greats Radio Program 1-26-05
