Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered powerful National Day of Prayer remarks as he joined others like Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner in commemorating the annual event since 1983.
For context, as the Christian Tribune previously reported, the event has been put on by an eponymous task force and recognized by every Republican administration but simultaneously downplayed by Democrat ones as it ostensibly celebrates and promotes Christianity, something anathema to far-left policy positions.
“The National Day of Prayer has been a mainstay in Washington, D.C. since the inception of a task force by the same name in 1983 under the Reagan administration. Since its founding, Democrat president Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have not held formal events and in many cases, opened up the informal gatherings they did host to include various religions,” the Christian Tribune wrote.
In his own remarks, Speaker Johnson began by noting that the National Day of Prayer had its origins during the Cold War as America fought against its godless, communist rivals while also highlighting America’s Christian roots. He also spent time reciting a prayer meaningful to him in his role as House Speaker.
“Now, prayer has been a part of our DNA since the very beginning, as you know, so it’s fitting that we do this. This formal tradition, as you know, was established by Congress at the height of the Cold War, and it reaffirms something that’s so important that really goes to the heart of who we are as Americans,” he said.
“We are a praying nation. We always have been. It truly is part of who we are. We know that prayer is where the impossible happens. We know it’s where we find solace and stay anchored in our faith, even through challenges and even through the storms, and that is indeed how we have endured. It’s fitting that we’re here in beautiful Statuary Hall, which, as you all know, was the original House chamber,” he continued.
“It’s fitting that as you walk around the Capitol here, and we’re so happy to welcome you today, that you’ll see vestiges, reminders of the deep religious heritage of our country. You’ll see reminders of our deep Judeo Christian traditions, our foundations, our biblical foundations. That’s what makes America unique and extraordinary. Just about 100 feet or so here, if you went through the rotunda and took a left, and you would go down the hallway where my office is the Speaker’s office on one side, on the other side is the Senate Majority Leader’s office,” he went on.
“And right in the middle of that is a chapel that was erected about the same time, built and established there about the same time as the National Day of Prayer became a formal piece of our law. And as you walk in there, many of you been in there before invite you to go visit it. Your eyes will be drawn up to this beautiful, original stained glass piece. It’s one of a kind. I think it’s the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”
“And in that stained glass, right in the center, is depicted the father of our country, George Washington. He is humbled before the Lord down on one knee, and he’s praying, and it says the words surrounding him are from Psalm 16, one. And it says, Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust. Preserve me. That’s what the father of our country said. That’s what we still echo today,” he prayed.
“And of course, that passage of scripture is a restatement of our national motto and God we trust. And by the way, if you come with us to the House chamber, the current House chamber, you’ll see that Congress, also, many years back, also during the height of the Cold War, decided to put to engrave permanently the the national motto right above the head of the Speaker of the House in the rostrum as a permanent reminder.”
“It, in fact, it says in the visitor’s guide to the to the House chamber, somewhere about on page 21 it says what that was for, and says Congress put that there as a rebuke to the Soviets because their philosophy, they did it they did it during the height of the Cold War, communism, Marxism, socialism begin with the premise that there is no God, and Congress wanted to make sure that all future generations understood that is not who we,” he finished.
Watch Speaker Johnson below: