Public Prayer Can Inspire a Nation

Can prayer be contagious?

Earlier this week, a photo was shared on social media of members of President Trump’s Cabinet praying before the State of the Union address.

It’s not clear who led the prayer, or how they prayed — but it’s not the first time public prayer has been associated with the Trump White House.

President Trump has been known to open Cabinet meetings with prayer.

Scott Turner, who serves as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and who is a former pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, has previously invoked the Lord before White House meetings.

Presidents have long talked about seeking the Lord’s guidance and direction, often before big decisions or historic moments. Of late, images of members of President Trump’s advisors praying have surfaced on social media. 

A video of Karoline Leavitt praying before a press briefing was released last year by one of Mr. Trump’s assistants. In the video, we hear Ms. Leavitt:

“Lord Jesus, please give us the strength, the knowledge, the ability to articulate our words and have fun and be confident. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

During the National Prayer Breakfast earlier this year, President Trump spoke about how Speaker of the House Mike Johnson asks to pray before meals in the Oval Office.

“Did you know that, Mr. Speaker, you know, Mike Johnson’s a very religious person, that he does not hide it?” Trump said. “He’ll say to me sometimes at lunch, ‘Sir, may we pray?’ I say, ‘Excuse me, we’re having lunch in the Oval.’ It’s okay with me. But, he’s a very religious person and he is popular, and he’s doing an unbelievable job.”

Strong Christians understand exactly what Speaker Johnson is doing, which is inviting the Lord to both bless and inform the gathering, wherever it might be. Christians may not always pray before meals out in public, but it’s a wonderful practice and tradition. While we shouldn’t pray for show or to impress anyone, public prayer can serve as a public witness — and certainly inspire and encourage others to do the same.

That’s because prayer is contagious.

“I pray because I cannot help myself,” wrote C.S. Lewis. “I pray because I am helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer called prayer “the breath of the Christian community.” Dr. Billy Graham preached, “When we come to Christ, we are not alone; we are joined with all who seek Him in prayer.”

Whether at the U.S. Capitol or the White House, it is good to see people seeking the Lord’s guidance in humble and contrite fashion.