I Prayed have prayed
Lord, we agree that unless You build the house then in vain do the builders labor. We pray for a revival among our leaders to seek Your guidance and direction in our national affairs.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Benjamin Franklin was known as one of the least religious founders. He has been labeled a deist, one who sees God as Creator but who doesn’t believe He interacts with His creation. Interestingly, at the end of his days he appeared to have a change of heart as he couldn’t deny that God intervened on numerous occasions over the course of the American Revolution. At the Constitutional Convention, Franklin at 81, reminds his colleagues they cannot forget what God had done and insists all need to continue to seek His assistance in order for the Republic to endure. He proposed they make it a policy to open session in prayer; a practice that still occurs today.

Mr. President:

The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other,”our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes and ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. ”Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? 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 labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.

https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06.html?fbclid=IwAR1u7jaDS1ffCNjRAY-rMvZuYRUA2Px8GqPrpidHtn2mLITCmn4ieDHpeUU

Comments (3) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Kim
July 16, 2019

The appeal of Benjamin Franklin to be guided by the highest authority, could easily apply to the needs of modern government.

Felicia
May 2, 2019

Oh Father God, we ask for this to be reinstated in our Congress today, that a great church awakening would lead to a great national awakening to your Salvation and Your civic leadership dear Lord our God.
In Jesus powerful name, we ask this, knowing we do not deserve it. Amen

Ruth h Leech
May 2, 2019

…”God governs in the affairs of men” and with prayer we can rest assured, God answers prayer. Praying daily for revival in our land.

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.