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Almighty God...We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, and that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.
And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.
Grant our supplication, we beseach Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ---George Washington
I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day. ---Abraham Lincoln
"Have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no
longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the
longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth---that God
governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the
ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise
without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that
'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." I
firmly believe this." ---Benjamin Franklin
"Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their
dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and
transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine
repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime
truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that
those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord." ---Abraham
Lincoln
"The reason that Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart." ---Thomas Jefferson
"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were, the general principles of Christianity." ---John Quincy Adams
"The fundamental basis of this nation's law was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teaching we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in the right for anybody except the state.--Harry S. Truman
Since our Nation's founding, Americans have turned to prayer for inspiration, strength and guidance. In times of trial, we ask God for wisdom, courage, direction and comfort. We offer thanks for the countless blessings God has provided. And we thank God for sanctifying every human life by creating each of us in His image. As we observe this National Day of Prayer, we call upon the Almighty to continue to bless America and her people.
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On this National Day of Prayer, I encourage Americans to remember the words of St. Paul: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to honor the religious diversity our freedom permits by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer," on the 2nd day of May!
Our President, George W. Bush
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