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Transcript — Inaugural benediction: Caldwell seeks ‘divine favor’ on nation


WASHINGTON (BP)–Let us pray, please.

Almighty God, the supply and supplier of peace, prudent policy and non-partisanship, we bless Your holy and righteous Name.

Thank You, O God, for blessing us with forgiveness, with faith and with favor.

Forgive us for choosing pride over purpose. Forgive us for choosing popularity over principles and forgive us for choosing materialism over morals. Deliver us from these and all other evils and cast our sins into Your sea of forgetfulness to be remembered no more.

And, Lord, not only do we thank You for our forgiveness, we thank You for faith — faith to believe that every child can learn, and no child will be left behind, and no youth will be left out.

Thank You for blessing us with the faith to believe that all of Your leaders can sit down and reason with one another so that each American is blessed.

Thank You for blessing us with the faith to believe that the walls of inequity can be torn down and the gaps between the rich and the poor, the “haves” and the “have-nots,” the uneducated and the educated can and will be closed.

And, Lord, lastly we thank You for favor. We thank You for Your divine favor. Let Your favor be upon President Clinton and the outgoing administration. May they go forth in spiritual grace and civic greatness.

And, of course, O Lord, let Your divine favor be upon President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush and their family. We decree and declare that no weapon formed against them shall prosper.

Let Your divine favor be upon the Bush team and all Americans.

With the rising of the sun and the going down of the same, may we grow in our willingness and ability to bless You and bless one another.

We respectfully submit this humble prayer in the Name that’s above all other names, Jesus, the Christ.

Let all who agree say Amen.
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Caldwell, minister at the Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, led this prayer at the conclusion of the Jan. 20 inauguration of President George W. Bush. Other inauguration coverage appeared in Baptist Press Monday, Jan. 22.

    About the Author

  • Kirbyjon Caldwell