All the Bible verses in this edition of The Presidential Prayer Team
for Kids Update are from The New Living Translation of the Bible.
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  • Meet Abigail Adams, a wise woman and great patriot!
  • George Washington says "thank you" for America's prayers.
  • A prayer for America from Stormie Omartian.

Things to pray for
Eye of Hurricane
This photo shows what a hurricane looks like from thousands of miles above the earth. It is a swirling mass of wind that carries much moisture with it. You can see the "eye"—the hole right in the middle. The eye of the storm is actually quite calm, unlike the other parts of the storm. Image courtesy of FEMA.

  1. You've probably heard about the terrible storms that have swept across Florida. First there was Charley, then Frances, and now people are concerned about Ivan. You may have been affected by one of those storms. That's why it's great that we can pray for all the people whose lives have been hurt by the storms, asking God to help and comfort them. You may not have thought of this but hundreds of churches and synagogues have been damaged by the storms, so we can pray for those congregations to be able to meet this Sunday, drawing hope from their faith in God. Pray also for the Christian organizations that are helping people in Florida. Many volunteers are hard at work showing Jesus' love while they give out water and other needed supplies.
  2. While you may have recently gone back to school, the members of Congress have just finished their summer break and are now back in session. Pray for them to want, with all their hearts, to do God's will and to cooperate with Him as they consider the very important issues facing them. They have to make decisions on things like how to change America's security and intelligence so we can prevent future attacks on America, how to best use our country's money to help people, and an amendment (change) to the Constitution that would stop anyone from desecrating (hurting or damaging with disrespect) our flag.
This picture shows President Bush as he helped hand out needed supplies to hurricane victims in Florida. Photo courtesy of the White House.
  1. Pray for the President as he continues to travel around the country working to help all Americans and keep our country safe. Pray that he will read his Bible and stay close to God every single day.
  2. Pray for our troops as they keep on serving our country and our President. They are working hard to safeguard freedom all over the world. Pray for those who have lost loved ones—that God will comfort them in their sorrow and remind them of His love.
Leaders to pray for

Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—
Michael D. Brown

Director of Housing and Urban Development—
Alphonso Jackson


Stormie Omartian is a very special woman who has inspired millions of people to take prayer more seriously. She has helped parents pray for their children, women pray for their husbands and people pray for their churches. You can use her words as a way to pray for our country.

A Prayer for America from Stormie Omartian
Lord, I pray that You will instill (put) in every American the desire to be in unity with other Americans. May there be mutual (two-way) respect, friendship and brotherly love among the people of this great land. Help us each to do our part to bring peace on earth. Give us a national conscience to clearly distinguish (tell) right from wrong with regard to how we treat one another and work in us a willingness to choose the right way. You have made America a large diverse family of many beautiful colors and a tapestry of cultures. I pray that in the family of our nation there will also arise appreciation and respect for the uniqueness of each individual. Help us to be unified with our leaders. Keep our leaders in a place of unity among themselves, and I pray that disunity will never be allowed to tear our country apart. Amen.
--Stormie Omartian, author and Member of The PPT Honorary Committee

Abigail Adams was an intelligent and outspoken woman who deeply loved and cared for her children. Portrait courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Do you know about Abigail Adams? If not, we want to be sure you get to know her. She was a great woman of faith who used her influence with her husband to help in the shaping of our country and our Constitution.

This photo shows the home Abigail Adams' lived in as she grew up. Photo courtesy of the Abigail Adams Historical Society.

Abigail Adams was born Abigail Smith in Weymouth, Massachusetts (that's just south of Boston) in 1744. From both sides of Abigail's family, she inherited great New England traditions. Her mother's family were the Quincy's, a well-known family in the colony; her father's family were ministers in the Congregational church. In colonial America, ministers were some of the most important leaders. And remember, Abigail was a British subject since there was no "America" yet!

Though Abigail did not have a formal education (in part because she was very sick as a child), her bright mind and quick wit were obvious to her family. She was taught at home by her mother and she loved to browse through her father's huge library. Her training in the Christian faith, poetry and literature, manners and domestic skills would all prove to be excellent training for the woman who would become the second First Lady of the United States.

Abigail Smith met John Adams who was drawn to her for sharp intellect and her way with words. They also had a strong Christian faith in common. They fell deeply in love and were married in 1764 with Abigail's father, Rev. Smith performing the ceremony in their home.

This photo shows the Adams' home as it looks today. You can go there and learn all about President John Adams and his son, President John Quincy Adams, our nation's 6th president. Photo courtesy of the National Parks Conservation Association.

After Abigail and John Adams were married, they set up housekeeping on the Adams' homestead in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. John Adams was a young lawyer who was not afraid to handle difficult cases. But his success in one case led to success in another, and he soon had a very good reputation. He was known for being a wise man and a careful thinker. His reputation began to spread throughout New England.

Before long, John Adams was serving in the Continental Congress where his many contributions were really appreciated. Mr. Adams believed strongly that the Colonies should separate from Britain—so strongly that he felt the Revolution was God's doing. Abigail supported him in this cause, and often wrote to him with suggestions for the new nation. She also felt that; to serve his country, a patriot must be a person of faith. In this letter to her good friend, Mercy Warren, she wrote of her feelings:

The members of the Continental Congress were the earliest leaders of our country. Painting courtesy of the Library of Congress.

A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he, whom no moral obligations bind, can have any real good will towards men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society?…The Scriptures tell us, "Righteousness exalteth a nation."
--Abigail Adams

Because of her husband's many responsibilities, they were often separated for long periods of time. John would be serving the Continental Congress in Philadelphia while Abigail stayed home with their children in Braintree. She got better and better at managing in John's absences, and she began offering her ideas on many subjects, ranging from the raising of their children to the management of their money, to the founding of the new country.

This photo, taken at the Adams homestead in Quincy, Massachusetts, shows how Abigail might have dressed—even when she was tending her garden! Photo courtesy of National Parks Conservation Association.

When the country was still young and its leaders were still figuring out how to organize the government, the Continental Congress asked John to represent them in France. After all the separation the family had experienced, neither John nor Abigail liked this idea at all! Yet they believed very much that public service was important, so they decided that John would go. After giving it some thought, Abigail decided not to accompany him, but their 11 year old son, Johnny, who was a bright and precocious student, would go as his father's personal secretary. This was a really great experience for young John Quincy, and it added untold benefits for his education.

Abigail learned how to conduct herself in both French and English high society, even though she was a "country" girl from a small town. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Abigail did eventually join her husband overseas both in France and in England—experiences that were very different from the quiet country life she enjoyed in Braintree, but she survived and thrived, learning about French culture and society.

This early drawing of the White House shows how it looked when Abigail and John Adams moved into it. Picture courtesy of the White House Historical Society.

When John Adams was elected Vice President under George Washington, Abigail joined him in New York. When he was elected President, the Adams' moved into the President's House in Philadelphia. Did you know that the White House was not yet the home of the President of the United States? That's right! George Washington never lived in the White House. A "president's residence" had been planned for quite some time, but was still under construction. Even after the Adams' moved into to the Washington, D.C. mansion, there were still major parts of the home that were not yet finished. In fact, Abigail wrote a letter home telling how:

There is not a single apartment finished, and all inside, except the plastering, has [just] been done…We have not the least fenceyard, or other convenience, without, and the great unfinished audience room I make a drying-room of, to hang up the clothes in. The [main] stairs are not up, and will not be this winter.
--Abigail Adams

This painting shows Abigail Adams as she used the biggest space available to hang her laundry. Image courtesy of the White House Historical

As she always did, Abigail made the best of the situation. She hung out her laundry in what is now the East Room!

Their time in the White House was only four months, and once John and Abigail Adams were finished with their lives in public service, they looked forward to a long and happy time back at home in Braintree. They lived for many years, and John was able to see his son, John Quincy, become the 6th president of the United States.

A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest Man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moral obligation binds, can have any real good will towards men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society? The Scriptures tell us "righteousness exalteth a Nation."
--Abigail Adams

Read the above quote again and answer the following questions:

QUESTION 1

True or False Abigail Adams believes that people who believe in God could not possibly be patriots.

  1. True
  2. False

QUESTION 2

True or False Abigail believes that morals are really important for people who hold public office.

  1. True
  2. False

QUESTION 3

True or False Abigail believes that when the people of a country obey God, God will honor that country by helping it to prosper and succeed.

  1. True
  2. False

Abigail Adams was very fond of the Scriptures. Her idea that God would bring blessing to America when and if the citizens obeyed Him comes straight from our Bible. Can you think of the verse?  Click here to read.

Bible Verses of the week

Tell everyone about God's power. His majesty shines down on Israel; His strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in His sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
—Psalm 68:34-35

Portrait of George Washington courtesy of the Library of Congress.

"Your benevolent wishes and fervent prayers for my personal welfare and felicity, demand all my gratitude. May the preservation of your civil and religious Liberties still be the care of an indulgent Providence; and may the rapid increase and universal extension of knowledge virtue and true Religion be the consequence of a speedy and honorable Peace."
--George Washington

Do you have people praying for you? If you do, you are very fortunate, because their prayers will help you and keep you safe. Be sure to tell them thanks every now and then, just like George Washington did. You might not use language as fancy as his, but your thoughts can be just as heartfelt and sincere. And remember your commitment to pray for the President. Your prayers really make a difference in America, and when you pray, you follow Abigail Adams' example. Your prayers also help fulfill the biblical promise that "righteousness exalts a nation!"

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