“Washington’s Prayer” by Jon McNaughton
George Washington was the Father of our country, and was also a man who prayed. On Inauguration Day, April 30, 1789, after taking the Oath of Office, he kissed the Bible and looked up, reverently closed his eyes and said, “So help me God!” He then gave his first Inauguration Address where he ended by saying:
“I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the Benign Parent of the Human Race, in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness.”
He wore a brown suit that day and walked with members of Congress to St. Paul’s Chapel where he offered prayer and devotion in behalf of a new Republic.
Many today argue whether Washington truly worshipped Jesus Christ.
In George Washington’s personal prayer book, in his own handwriting he wrote:
“And since Thou art a God of pure eyes, and will be sanctified in all who draw nearer to Thee, who dost not regard the sacrifice of fools, nor hear sinners who tread in Thy courts, pardon I beseech Thee, my sins, remove them from Thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept of me for the merits of Thy son Jesus Christ, that when I come into Thy temple and compass Thine altar, my prayer may come before Thee as incense, and as I desire Thou wouldst hear me calling upon Thee in my prayers, so give me peace to hear the calling on me in Thy word, that it may be wisdom, righteousness, reconciliation and peace to the saving of my soul in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
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