President Bush Addresses the 51st Annual Prayer Breakfast
Remarks by the President at the National Prayer Breakfast
The Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
8:11 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for that warm welcome. Great
introduction. (Laughter.) Especially since you mentioned Laura.
(Laughter.) I want to thank the Speaker and Leader Pelosi. Ray, I
want to thank you very much for being the chairman of the National
Prayer Breakfast. I was wondering why the Grace Singers from Peoria
managed to get here. (Laughter.) But I'm sure glad they did.
(Applause.) It might have been the best decision you made, Mr.
Chairman. (Laughter.)
I want to welcome Michael W. Smith and his wife here. Michael W.
is going to have dinner at the White House tonight. We look forward to
seeing you both. They've been great friends of Laura and me and my
family. It is a treat to have him here, to lend his God-given talents
to this important breakfast.
I appreciate the fact that Tenet and Myers will be up here at the
head table. It is fitting that in the midst of tough times that these
two leaders are sharing with scripture and prayer with the country. I
appreciate all the members of Congress here. I pray for your wisdom on
a daily basis. (Laughter and applause.)
I want to thank all the members of my Cabinet who are here. I
really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share
in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty God is a God
to everybody, every person.
I really am so honored that Dr. Condoleezza Rice is going to share
some comments with you. I know this; that the Reverend John W. Rice,
Jr. would be incredibly proud of his wise and gracious daughter.
(Applause.)
It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast. It is the
right thing to do, because this is a nation of prayer. I know, from
firsthand knowledge, that this is a nation of prayer. See, I work the
ropelines a lot, and I hear all kinds of things on the ropelines. But
the thing I hear the most, the comment I hear the most from our fellow
citizens, regardless of their political party or philosophy, is, Mr.
President, I pray for you and your family, and so does my family.
That's what I hear. I turn to them without hesitation and say, it is
the greatest gift you can give anybody, is to pray on their behalf.
I especially feel that because I believe in prayer. I pray. I
pray for strength, I pray for guidance, I pray for forgiveness. And I
pray to offer my thanks for a kind and generous Almighty God.
As Dick mentioned, we mourn the loss of seven brave souls. We
learned a lot about them over the last couple of days, and Laura and I
learned a lot about their families in Houston, because we met with
them. My impressions of the meeting was that there was -- that
Almighty God was present in their hearts. There was such incredible
strength in the room of those who were grieving that it was
overwhelming, to be with those who just lost their husband or wife or
dad or mom, and to feel the presence of the Almighty. I attribute it
to the fact that they, themselves, are in prayer. And our country
prays for their strength. And we must continue to pray for those who
suffer and those who grieve.
This is a testing time for our country. At this hour we have
troops that are assembling in the Middle East. There's oppressive
regimes that seek terrible weapons. We face an ongoing threat of
terror. One thing is for certain: we didn't ask for these challenges,
but we will meet them. I say that with certainty, because this nation
has strong foundations that won't be shaken.
As America passes through this decisive period, there are things we
can count on. We can be confident in the character of the American
people. The months since September the 11th, 2001,
have not brought fear and fatigue or rash anger. Instead we've
witnessed courage and resolve and calm purpose. We've seen that a new
generation of Americans is strong and steadfast in the face of danger,
and our confidence will not be shaken. (Applause.)
We can be confident in America's cause in the world. Our nation is
dedicated to the equal and undeniable worth of every person. We don't
own the ideals of freedom and human dignity, and sometimes we haven't
always lived up to them. But we do stand for those ideals, and we will
defend them.
We believe, as Franklin Roosevelt said, that men and women born to
freedom in the image of God will not forever suffer the oppressor's
sword. We are confident that people in every part of the world wish
for freedom, not tyranny; or for peace to terror and violence. And our
confidence will not be shaken.
We can also be confident in the ways of Providence, even when they
are far from our understanding. Events aren't moved by blind change
and chance. Behind all of life and all of history, there's a
dedication and purpose, set by the hand of a just and faithful God.
And that hope will never be shaken.
In this hour of our country's history, we stand in the need of
prayer. We pray for the families that have known recent loss. We pray
for the men and women who serve around the world to defend our
freedom. We pray for their families. We pray for wisdom to know and
do what is right. And we pray for God's peace in the affairs of men.