345-Year Old Prayer Still Relevant Today
…And needed even more.
Following is a transcript from the Office of the Chaplain, U.S. House of Representatives’ Archives of the incredibly moving first prayer prayed at the 1774 Continental Congress.
Today, the United States stands in need of earnest prayer, arguably even more so than in 1774. The “cruel adversaries” have changed. Unfortunately there is not an ocean that separates us. Elected and appointed government officials seek to destroy this country from within, doing the bidding of globalists, aka transnationalists, progressives, mainstream media, and dark money.
Reading this prayer brings to mind, that in 1774, these honorable men were working for a common cause. An experiment in history the likes of which no nation had ever seen. History tells of their grand success, American liberty, American exceptionalism.
America’s patriots, many of whom are Christians, hope that history continues to proclaim this truth for centuries to come. With God’s help, all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). We have God’s Word on it!
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Proverbs 8:17
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” Isaiah 51:1
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29:11-13
Where Two Or More…
As we pray for our wonderful country, lift up this prayer now and whenever God brings it to mind. It seems that God would be honored that the same prayer prayed over this country at its founding would be prayed over this country 345 years later.
Though needs and situations have changed, God does not change. Great is His faithfulness. God has not forgotten about America.
Prayer is the divine design for defeating the “malicious designs” of those who are futile in their thinking, their foolish hearts darkened with hunger for power and greed, who God has given up to a debased mind (Romans 1:28).
And it is about time, don’t you think, to call on God to take down the left?
First Prayer Of The 1774 Continental Congress
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing care; give them wisdom in Council and valor in the field; defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries; convince them of the unrighteousness of their Cause and if they persist in their sanguinary purposes, of own unerring justice, sounding in their hearts, constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle!
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior.
Amen.
Reverend Jacob Duché
Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.
…For purple mountain majesties, Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee…
