Last year, the president quoted Isaiah 40:31, which he revealed is his favorite verse from the Bible.
The passage reads: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
At today’s National Prayer Breakfast all the speakers reminded us that there should be a time for prayer and that it enables you to see clearly.
In the opening prayer Senator Robert Casey implored God to have us be more understanding of our leaders and to seek His wisdom and guidance.He also reminded us to count our blessings and used the hymn “We Are Called” to drum home the meaning of our need to appreciate our many blessings.
Gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Christian contemporary artist Steve Green were on hand to serenade the crowd gathered at the Washington Hilton.
“Soul Surfer” author Bethany Hamilton explained how honored she is to be an example. She said,
“Because of my Lord Jesus Christ I have no regrets because of the troubles of my life. God has taken something which seemed so awful and has turned it into something amazing. I remind them that there is hope.”
Dr. Rajiv Shah joked about his work with Congress. He explained how poverty drains the dignity , and reminded us that “if we are being honest it sometimes drains our “compassion for those who suffer.” We can end poverrty.
“Governments can’t do this by themselves, Business won’t do it alone. Together we are making astonishing progress. We can represent the best of our values to the world. This work like prayer, changes us. Can we embrace our faith, summon our courage and do like wise”
President Obama opened his address by saying, ” Giving all praise and honor to God who brought us here this morning.” He informed the audience that Dr. Shah was a dedicated harder worker and he makes him feel like an “should have been working harder and not slouching”.
“Each time we gather it’s a chance to set aside at he rush of daily lives, to pause with humility before an lmight God to seek his grace and mindful of our own imperfections to remember the admonition of the book of Romans.
Romans 12:16 says:
Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart.
He admitted that Religion supports America and the great work of many organizations that help those who struggle. He reminded us of the great work that the Faith Base and Neighborhood Issues is helping with poverty, immigration and trafficking. He invited many this morning to help with the new initiative to help more men of color to overcome the challenges of today’ s world. He admits that freedom of religion around the world is under threat.
President Obama ended his speech with the following words:
“I pray that His wisdom will give us the capacity to do right and to seek justice and defend the oppressed.”
Here is the scripture that started the day below:
Ecclesiastes 3
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
