Drake Caudill, pastor of First Baptist Church in Carmi, prayed the opening prayer in front of the Illinois House of Representatives on March 20, just minutes before the Pro-Life Rally and Lobby Day began a few floors below in the Capitol Rotunda. Caudill told the Illinois Baptist before speaking to the House, “I’ve been praying on the way up here thanking God for this opportunity.”
Below is the prayer he prayed:
House of Representatives Prayer
March 20, 2019
Our Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. All good things come from You and we give you thanks for the opportunity to serve the people of the great state of Illinois. I personally thank you for the men and women who stand here today and have committed their lives to the welfare and good of the wonderful citizens of Illinois. I thank you for their service and for the sacrifice both they and their families have made.
We also give you thanks for the wisdom You provide and it’s for this, we come to You today. You alone are all knowing and all wise, and because of this we humbly ask that You grant each lawmaker here today the wisdom to uphold and maintain laws that do not forget the poor, the immigrant, elderly and the unborn and children in foster care. Guide each lawmaker with the insight to lead our state according to the command you gave to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Direct their decisions so that You are not forgotten in political agendas and state policies. Give them courage to stand for truth, human dignity and life. Help them remember their power and position comes from You and help them govern with humility.
As we look to You for wisdom, strength and direction, we finally give you thanks for the blessing of Your Son, who gave Himself through His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection. We thank you for the time You’ve blessed us with today. We thank You for hearing our prayer today.
I pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.