Prayer Given in Kansas at Opening Senate Session_Revisited!
by James Robison
In my 77 years, I’ve never witnessed such a challenging time for our nation. I’ve never had more reason to be concerned and to pray for the future and blessings only freedom makes possible.
Our Father in heaven wants us to live in freedom. In order to do so, we must maintain freedom’s foundation, protective boundaries led by the transforming, redemptive power of the gospel and the principles essential for freedom’s survival.
Pastor Joe Wright Stood Up
Twenty-five years ago, a courageous, concerned pastor from Kansas stood up and shared a powerful prayer before the opening session of the Kansas House of Representatives. Pastor Joe Wright obviously loved freedom, understood its importance and the necessity of repentance God calls for in order for Him to heal our nation.
Twenty-five years later, the words of Pastor Wright resound even louder.
Here is that prayer:
“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says: “Woe to those who call evil good”, but that is exactly what we have done.
* We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
* We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
* We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
* We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
* We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
* We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
* We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
* We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
* We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
* We have abused power and called it politics.
* We have embezzled public funds and called it essential expenses.
* We have institutionalised bribery and called it sweets of office.
* We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
*We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
* We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh GOD, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!”
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.
The legendary Paul Harvey reported on it and recited the prayer. (You can listen to that broadcast here.)
I just spoke with Pastor Wright, now 78 years old. He told me he is still fired up — and after a short retirement in Florida, he returned to Wichita, where he preaches every Sunday at a small church.
May a similar fire burn from all our pulpits.
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