Presidential Prayer Kids

Seahawks’ Holmgren's wife will spend Super Bowl weekend in Congo
Courtesy of the Evangelical Covenant Church

The wife of Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Mike Holmgren won't be watching her husband's team in Super Bowl XL—she has more important things to do. Kathy Holmgren and one of her daughters, Calla, leave Thursday, February 2 on a 17-day medical training mission to Congo. Read more.

America's Teens Anticipate Souper Sunday
Courtesy of Crosswalk.com
Teens across the nation are transforming Super Bowl Sunday into the nation's largest youth-led day of giving through Souper Bowl of Caring, according to a DeMossNewsPond release.

This Super Bowl weekend, teens armed with soup pots will be collecting dollar bills at churches, retail outlets, and Super Bowl parties. Youth from all 50 states will raise funds to benefit the LOCAL soup kitchen, food bank, or shelter of their choice. By using this weekend as a time to serve the hungry and hurting members of their own communities, thousands of young Americans will be working to transform one of the nation's universal days of parties into an opportunity to care for their neighbors in need. In the last 15 years, Souper Bowl of Caring has collected more than $28 million.

Every penny goes to local charities. "This will be an especially poignant year for Souper Bowl of Caring", said Brad Smith, founder of the effort. That's because the Super Bowl is being hosted in Detroit, recently identified as America's poorest big city. Souper Bowl of Caring -- an officially-sanctioned event of the 2006 Detroit Super Bowl XL Host committee -- is building momentum and inspiring youth nationwide to participate.

It may seem a little unusual to connect something as modern and futuristic as an Internet-based prayer meeting to two men who lived a long time ago. But in a way it makes sense, because both were men of prayer. They prayed in all kinds of situations, both good and bad. No doubt, if Washington and Lincoln were alive today, they’d be joining in the fun and joy of the OPR.

You may know about President’s Day—you may even know a lot about Presidents Washington and Lincoln. Did you ever think to honor them by a day of prayer? It’s a great idea because both men relied on prayer to help them through some of the most difficult days in our Nation’s history.

Here are some examples of George Washington’s reliance on prayer:

Portrait of George Washington courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.

George Washington spoke often of God’s help in defeating the British during the American Revolution. He was continually in awe of the ways he saw God helping the Americans with their freedom from Britain. On August 20, 1778, General Washington was in the midst of the war. He wrote a letter to his friend, Brigadier General Thomas Nelson of Virginia saying:

The hand of Providence (In Colonial times, you used the word “Providence” to refer to God) has been so conspicuous in all this (the course of the war) that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more wicked that has not gratitude to acknowledge his obligations; but it will be time enough for me to turn Preacher when my present appointment ceases.

If we said this in words used today, it would read something like this:

It’s been so obvious that God’s hand has been right here helping us through this entire Revolution. Anyone who doesn’t believe that’s true and doesn’t thank God for His help isn’t a very good person! But there will be plenty of time for me to turn into a preacher who tells of God’s marvelous help for our troops once I no longer have to lead this Revolutionary Army!

George Washington documented carefully the many times that God helped his troops, even with weather conditions! On February 3, 1781, Cornwallis and his British troops were hot on the trail of the Americans as they crossed the Yadkin River in Pennsylvania. Just as the Redcoats were about to close in on the Americans, a sudden flood arose and prevented the Brits from crossing the river and capturing the Revolutionary troops. This kind of thing happened so often that once Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown, Washington called for a service of thanks and praise to God with these words:

The commander-in-chief earnestly recommends that the troops not on duty should universally attend with that seriousness of deportment and gratitude of heart which the recognition of such reiterated and astonishing interposition of Providence demands of us.

This photo shows some men acting out a battle of the Revolutionary War. There were many occasions, large and small when General George Washington believed that God directly intervened to help Colonial Army in a miraculous way. Photo courtesy of battleroad.org.

Again, if we explain General Washington’s feelings in words we use today, it would come out something like this:

As your Commander-in-Chief, I strongly recommend that any troops who are not on duty should set aside a special time to examine their hearts and minds and take time out to recognize the many times and ways that God Himself intervened and helped us. The kind help He has given calls for this attitude of gratitude!

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

There are many other examples of George Washington’s gratitude to God and his reliance on prayer. Here is one of George Washington’s great prayers. It is a prayer for America, and in this prayer, Washington is asking God to bless our country by helping all of her citizens to be better Christians. As you read his words, see if you can identify the other concerns Washington prays for.

Almighty God: we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection: 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 beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

That’s a pretty cool prayer, isn’t it? In fact, George Washington’s Prayer for America is exactly the kind of prayer we can all be praying for our Nation! Let’s take a look at it in closer detail, and perhaps we will get some ideas for how we can pray for America during the OPR.

QUESTION 1

When you think about the things that George Washington seems most concerned about for his country (after all, we pray about the thing that concern us, right?), which list would you say is most accurate?

QUESTION 2

When George Washington prays that God will “incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government” what do you think he means?

QUESTION 3

George Washington mentions one “secret ingredient” that he prays for Americans to develop toward one another and toward their country. What is it?

QUESTION 4

As you read again George Washington’s prayer for America, which things do you think really concern him so much that he brings them to God in prayer?

George Washington makes a direct reference to a really great Scripture verse from the Old Testament in his prayer (which is great, because God loves it when we pray; His Word back to Him!). Do you know where to find the verse? Hover here to read.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in America felt as strongly about our land being right before God, just like George Washington did? This year, with our Online Prayer Rally on President’s Day we will have the opportunity to pray in this way for the country—but we don’t need to wait for President’s Day! We can pray this way every day for the country! We hope you’ll take time to pray George Washington’s prayer for America, and to tell your friends, parents and teachers about it!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE WAYS TO PRAY