At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, when the outcome looked grim, Benjamin Franklin appealed to the delegates and urged prayer. He said, “I have lived a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?

“I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

“I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations.”

Today, we celebrate 248 years of the greatest experiment in self governance the world has ever known — a nation birthed out of prayer. All these years later, may we again unite in prayer and ask for the assistance of Heaven and its blessings for the next 248 years — so we may experience a new, new birth of freedom and ensure this government of the people, by the people, for the people will not perish from the earth.

On this Independence Day, I hope you’ll join me in praying for our nation and celebrating the Founding Fathers who understood the power of prayer at the birth of our nation.

“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” – Psalm 127:1-2