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The story is often told.

It was the long, hot summer of 1787. Delegates from 12 of the original 13 colonies had gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to make some necessary changes in the way that our new nation was governing itself. The Articles of Confederation that had been drafted during the days of the Revolution were not serving the country well in its first days of independence. And so more than 50 national leaders gathered at the "Constitutional Convention" to consider the future shape of our national government. The debates were long and contentious, and little progress was made.

And then, on June the 28th, Benjamin Franklin, then 81 years old and in failing health, rose to address the body. His remarks that day have been named one of the top 100 American Speeches of all times.

Franklin began by reminding the Convention that –

In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of dangers, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers were heard, and they were graciously answered….

And then he wondered out loud –

Have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

And then finally he made a proposal –

I have lived 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 in the sacred writings, that 'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without 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 blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assemble every morning before we proceed to business…

There is no evidence that the Constitutional Convention of 1787 actually heeded this elder Statesman’s plea for prayer. But when the first Congress assembled under the provisions of the new Constitution that was drafted in Philadelphia, one of the first things they did was to appoint chaplains for both the House and the Senate so that every day’s business there might begin with prayer. And this tradition has continued uninterrupted ever since.

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Perhaps the most famous Congressional Chaplain of them all was Peter Marshall who served the Senate from January 6, 1947, until his untimely death on January 25, 1949. Two weeks before he died, Peter Marshall opened the Senate with this prayer.

Stop us, O God, for a minute of prayer.
Stop our anxious minds from wandering, and our hearts from desiring anything but to know Thy will.
Let us stand at attention before Thee and hear what Thou hast to say to us.
We believe that Thou canst tell us not only what to do, but also how to do it.
If it needs making up our minds, Thou who didst make our minds canst show us how to make them up.
If it needs changing our minds, Thou canst work that miracle too. Speak, O Lord, and make us here, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

We join with our forefathers in acknowledging that without You we would be nothing. All that we have, individually and as a nation, we owe to You. Even as we thank You for Your grace and mercy in the past, we seek Your continued blessings on our nation. We beg for revival and renewal throughout our land that we shall be a culture of life and a people who seek to do Your will, striving for those things which are true and honest and uplifting. Lead us into greater knowledge of You and greater service that Your name might be praised.

Our thoughts are with those in our military who, rather than gathering with family around a bountiful table, are in far away lands. Let them know Your presence and give them strength and courage. We thank You for these troops who make such personal sacrifice to fight the enemies of freedom and light and we pray for their safety and well-being. Comfort their families and feed them with the sustenance of Your word.

Lord, we pray for our President and his family. We rejoice that this good man, who hears Your voice and calls Your name, was re-elected. Guide him in the coming days, filling him with Your wisdom and placing Your will in his heart and mind that he may lead our country as You would have us be led. Hold him and his family in the palm of Your hand and increase their faith in You, showing them how You would have them walk. In the name of Jesus. Amen.