Prayer for the Pennsylvania State Senate

I was privileged to provide the opening prayer on the floor of the Pennsylvania State Senate today.  The following prayer was shared:

Father in Heaven, we gather on this day to give You thanks and praise for Your bountiful care in our lives. We live in a privileged country; We have a government by the people and for the people. We are a group that is relatively affluent and we have little need for anything outwardly in comparison to other countries.

But by the same token we know that man does not live by bread alone but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Your word says: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).”  We know that we are a spiritually poor land and in need of revival and grace. Apart from You, we can do nothing.  Forgive us for ways we have offended You.  Turn our hearts back to You, we ask.

I also pray for these men and women who have dedicated their lives to writing our laws and leading  our Commonwealth. Give them wisdom and grace to make good and upright decisions. Let them rule, knowing that they were elected by the people but allowed to occupy their offices because of Your sovereign hand (Romans 13:1).

Please bless our state.  But more importantly, may our lives bless You. Teach us the importance of obedience to your laws and service to others; love for You and love for our fellow man.

We pray this humbly in the Name that is above every name, the One who paid for our sins with His precious blood on the cross, and rose from the dead, Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen.