BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PRAYER AND OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
Tuesday, October 07, 2003

Our Republic was founded by men who believed in God and in the power of prayer to change things.

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, delegates were arguing with each other and seemed to be deadlocked over the question of how to set up a system of central government that would protect the rights of the individual states.

For a time it looked like the convention would dissolve in chaos.

Benjamin Franklin could see that the bickering between delegates was going to destroy any chances of unity. He rose and said these famous words:

“I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it.” I believe this; and I also believe that with His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel…I therefore beg leave to move – that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessing
on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we
proceed to business…

Franklin’s advise was heeded, and it marked a turning point for our nation.
The delegates joined each other to pray each morning for God’s guidance and
God gave guidance to them as they crafted the Constitution.

Defend your faith and the godly heritage of this nation. Stand up and be counted.

*It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not
dare that they are difficult.

* Seneca