Prayer at the Opening of the Kansas House of Representatives, 1996
EDITORIAL: Twenty-five years ago, a courageous, concerned pastor from Kansas stood up and shared a powerful prayer before the opening session of the Kansas House of Representatives. Pastor Joe Wright obviously loved freedom, understood its importance and the necessity of repentance God calls for in order for Him to heal our nation.
Twenty-five years later, the words of Pastor Wright resound even louder.
We are all witnessing today the horrific, damaging effect of deception, disease, dissension, defeat, debt, despair, destruction and death. There’s only one Power that can restore freedom, peace, security and the blessings only freedom offers — and that is Almighty God, our Creator and heavenly Father.
If we will return to God, His blessings will return to us. He promises redemption and restoration of all that truly matters in life. God wants the best for all of us and knows how to direct us and deliver fruitfulness, fullness and meaning in life found only in the blessings freedom offers.
“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance.
“We know Your word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good, but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.
“We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your word in the name of ‘moral pluralism.’
“We have worshiped other gods and called it ‘multiculturalism.’
“We have endorsed perversion and called it ‘an alternative lifestyle.’
“We have exploited the poor and called it ‘a lottery.’
“We have neglected the needy and called it ‘self-preservation.’
“We have rewarded laziness and called it ‘welfare.’
“In the name of ‘choice,’ we have killed our unborn.
“In the name of ‘right to life,’ we have killed abortionists.
“We have neglected to discipline our children and called it ‘building esteem.’
“We have abused power and called it ‘political savvy.’
“We’ve coveted our neighbors’ possessions and called it ‘taxes.’
“We’ve polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it ‘freedom of expression.’
“We’ve ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it ‘enlightenment.’
“Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today. Try us, and show us any wicked in us. Cleanse us from every sin, and set us free.
“Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of the United States of America (Kansas) and who have been ordained by You to govern this great country (state).
“Grant them Your wisdom to rule, and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will.
“I ask it in the name of your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen”