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Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Brian Babin (TX-36) today marked the 64th annual National Day of Prayer by sharing his personal reflections and prayers for our nation. To watch the video, please click here. The transcript is as follows:

“Today is a special day – as millions of Americans join together in prayer for our nation and its leaders. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history – including President Lincoln’s designation of April 30, 1863, as a “Day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. Then in 1952, President Truman signed a resolution officially declaring an annual National Day of Prayer. It was later amended by President Reagan to permanently set our National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday of every May.

“On this day each year we pause and put ourselves humbly before God, seeking His guidance for our nation and His grace and mercy upon us as a people. This year’s theme – ‘Lord Hear Our Cry’ – speaks to us all. I believe Scripture reminds us of the manner in which we are to come before our Lord in prayer. We are to do so in humility. 2 Chronicles 7:14, reminds us, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’

“It is in that spirit of humility, that we join together today. Seeking the mercy and grace of our Lord, knowing that what we really deserve is judgment. We should be thankful, now more than ever, that our God is a God of mercy and grace, and we come before him today asking for his blessing. We live in trying times here at home and abroad, but in many respects we always have since the birth of the United States. I implore you to remember that we serve a God that is all-powerful and is beyond the limits of humankind. With these challenges there may be a temptation to despair, recognizing what is beyond our abilities to fix. And, that may be the case. But rather than despair, we should turn to prayer. That is what we are doing today.

“None of us are perfect; we all have limitations and shortcomings. To those of us who are Christians, the Bible reminds us that we serve a God of mercy, a God of grace and a God of immeasurable compassion. Today, we come humbly before him in prayer. The National Prayer Day is an annual reminder for us to be in prayer for our nation, our leaders and our military members. It gives us the opportunity in this season of uncertainty to be reminded that the Lord hears our cries. So today I join you in solemn pray for our nation which has been blessed beyond measure. I also humbly ask for your prayers as I seek to serve you with integrity in the U.S. Congress. God Bless Texas and God Bless the United States of America.”