Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration Prayer by Rick Warren - Transcript and Video

Justin Taylor beat me to the punch, but I am including the transcript and video below as well to share why I am proud that Rick Warren didn't back down and proclaimed Jesus Christ without shame!


Inauguration Prayer for President Barack Obama by Pastor Rick Warren

Almighty God, our Father:

Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.

It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.

History is your story.

The Scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one." And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.

We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama,

the wisdom to lead us with humility,

the courage to lead us with integrity,

the compassion to lead us with generosity.

Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans--united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you--forgive us.

When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone--forgive us.

When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve--forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.

May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.

And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

HT: Brad Greenberg for the initial transcript.


5 comments:

Unknown said...

thanks for posting the transcript

Chris Meirose said...

Happy to do so. It was a great prayer!

Unknown said...

i agree, 'twas a great prayer... was so moved and humbled myself. would you happen to have also the transcript of rev lowery's benediction prayer? thanks for posting

Anonymous said...

i loved Rev. Lowery's prayer, thought it was beautiful. Rick Warren's was good too.

.:Then Comes Wife:. said...

God bless Rick Warren. He is being used by God. But I am sorry...if your read the sermons and prayers of all the other Presidential Inaugural ceremonies there is a HUGE difference! I mean HUGE!

There was now political correctness. It was prayed that Jesus gives new life and that no one comes to the Father but through Christ. Not "Jesus changed my life". Jesus gives new life once we die to ourselves. I am not trying to be critical, just truthful.

See the difference for yourself.

http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/inaugural01.htm

Please note I am an Obama supporter and democrat.