Billy Graham Prays At The 1969 Presidential Inauguration
On January 20, 1969, Billy Graham prayed during the Presidential Inauguration for President Richard Nixon’s first term.Â
Our Father and our God, Thou hast said, “Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.” We recognize on this historic occasion that we are “a nation under God.” We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation!
Thou hast warned us in the Scriptures, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” As George Washington reminded us in his farewell address, morality and faith are the pillars of our society. We confess these pillars are being eroded in an increasingly materialistic and permissive society. The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of the hour. Too long we have neglected Thy word and ignored Thy laws. Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too long we have tried to live by bread alone. We have sown to the wind and are now reaping a whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion.
And now with the wages of our sins staring us in the face, we remember Thy words, “If my people who are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Help us this day to turn from our sins and to turn by simple faith to the One who said, “Ye must be born again.”
So we pray, O God, as we enter a new era, that we as a nation may experience a moral and spiritual restoration.
Timeless Prayer
It never ceases to amaze that prayers steeped in Gospel truth are timeless. Of course, this is because the Gospel is eternal. Reverend Graham’s prayer for the country is as relevant in 2020, 51 years later, as it was in 1969. Note also that Graham never misses an opportunity to share the Gospel and pray for those in need of salvation and/or repentance.
