A Prayer for those in Authority

An Invocation at the Opening of the Senate of the State of Mississippi
State Capitol, Senate Chamber
Jackson, Mississippi
10 o’clock in the morning, September 29, 2005

Triune God – you are the God of storms, wind and waves. Nothing in this whole universe is outside of your control. You have the whole world in your hands. We are so thankful for that truth and reality – because we are overwhelmed by the devastation wrought upon our State and people by the great storms Katrina and Rita. So help us this day; Calm our troubled hearts; give us courage and determination; Grow us up in Grace through adversity; Increase our love in trials and make us truly thankful for your mercies.

Almighty God, you are also the Ruler of all the earth, the Establisher of justice, freedom and government. We come before you this day humbly asking for your presence with and your mercies and blessings on these men and women who shoulder the shared burden of governance and to whom has been entrusted the sacred, noble and public vocation of furthering the rule of law and promoting the general welfare of this great State.

Grant these Senators, heavenly wisdom. So that they would not choose the path that is easiest, but the path that is good, and right, and best. Grant that they would look far into the future as they make their decisions, so that what they choose will serve the interests of our people’s well-being in the generations to come, and not just a few years hence.

Use them not only for the promotion of our people’s economic well-being, but also their moral well-being. And remind them that “He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God, Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, Through sunshine after rain.”

This I ask, for all of them, in Jesus’ name. Amen

[The Governor of Mississippi called a special session of the Mississippi Congress in order to respond to the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the State]