America Has A History Of Prayer, Including Examples From Presidents

March 11, 2020 at 10:11 p.m.

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Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the Coronavirus Taskforce, asked those who were meeting in the room to bow their heads for a time a prayer, seeking guidance and wisdom from Heaven on Feb. 26.  

Outcries of separation of church and state and offense immediately followed when a photo was released to the media.  Pence was incessantly mocked by some for this simple act of humility before our Creator.  

Have we come to a point in our society where some are so arrogant that we shouldn’t “Appeal To Heaven” when crisis comes?  America has a history of prayer, led or encouraged by the president and others in times of distress. As Allied forces launched the assault on Europe now known as D-Day, President Franklin Roosevelt met with the American people on radio and implored, “O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled.”  

There is a place for politics but our senses have been dulled by our division. When an outbreak like Coronavirus comes we need to put our labels aside and come together as Americans.  

Roosevelt asked “that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.”  

Thousands were sent to their death for the cause of liberty in 1944 and now 76 years later, we don’t know how many may die from this viral outbreak. Our vice president showed American leadership by taking time for invocation.  

Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”  

Let us devote ourselves to humbly seek God each day as He sees us through all our troubles or we won’t have a prayer.

Ken Locke is community ministries director of The Salvation Army in Warsaw and director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association. Have ideas for this column? Go to www.gwma.info.

Vice President Mike Pence, chairman of the Coronavirus Taskforce, asked those who were meeting in the room to bow their heads for a time a prayer, seeking guidance and wisdom from Heaven on Feb. 26.  

Outcries of separation of church and state and offense immediately followed when a photo was released to the media.  Pence was incessantly mocked by some for this simple act of humility before our Creator.  

Have we come to a point in our society where some are so arrogant that we shouldn’t “Appeal To Heaven” when crisis comes?  America has a history of prayer, led or encouraged by the president and others in times of distress. As Allied forces launched the assault on Europe now known as D-Day, President Franklin Roosevelt met with the American people on radio and implored, “O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled.”  

There is a place for politics but our senses have been dulled by our division. When an outbreak like Coronavirus comes we need to put our labels aside and come together as Americans.  

Roosevelt asked “that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.”  

Thousands were sent to their death for the cause of liberty in 1944 and now 76 years later, we don’t know how many may die from this viral outbreak. Our vice president showed American leadership by taking time for invocation.  

Psalm 34:17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”  

Let us devote ourselves to humbly seek God each day as He sees us through all our troubles or we won’t have a prayer.

Ken Locke is community ministries director of The Salvation Army in Warsaw and director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association. Have ideas for this column? Go to www.gwma.info.
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