Prayer has played a defining role in the shaping of the United States since its founding, from solemn appeals for divine protection during the Revolutionary War to public invocations at moments of national crisis.
At a recent governor’s dinner at the White House, that tradition was placed front and center once again as President Donald Trump invited Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to lead the room in prayer.
“You have done a fantastic job and Pete, you are doing incredible and please say grace,” Trump said as he introduced him.
With governors, cabinet members and national leaders assembled, Hegseth stepped forward and began with a simple request: “If you would bow your head.”
“Dear heavenly father, King Jesus, we come humbly before your throne praising you for all the providence you’ve bestowed upon this nation for over 250 years,” he prayed.
From the outset, the prayer was rooted in gratitude and historical awareness. Hegseth pointed to the nation’s founding and its enduring acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty.
“From George Washington to President Trump, we have dedicated this nation to one nation under God. And certainly in God we trust,” he said.
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He invoked the image of Washington at Valley Forge, describing him as “unbended knee in Valley Forge appealing to heaven on behalf of his troops and this young nation.” Hegseth added, “We’ve appealed to you from the beginning and may we continue to appeal to you.”
The prayer then turned directly to the nation’s current leadership.
“And tonight we pray for our president, President Trump. Give him safety. Give him wisdom,” Hegseth said. “Lord, we pray for our vice president, our first lady, our second lady, the cabinet members here, all the governors assembled here as well, our civil magistrates.”
He asked that God would grant leaders both clarity and courage. “Lord God, I ask that you give them the wisdom to see what is right and the courage to do it.”
In a moment that underscored the biblical foundation of his remarks, Hegseth defined wisdom in unmistakable terms.
“Wisdom defined as the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord being the source of all knowledge and wisdom,” he prayed. “Lord God, your eternal truths, may they rule.”
He also remembered America’s service members stationed around the world.
“I would be remiss if I did not pray for our great troops, our men and women all around the globe, defending our great nation as they have for 250 years,” he said. “Lord God, watch over them and protect them.”
Hegseth closed the prayer with a clear declaration of faith. “It is in your holy name, the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that we pray and we bless this food, too. Amen.”
We live in an era marked by political division and cultural uncertainty, and the moment stood as a public affirmation of the spiritual heritage that has long undergirded the American experiment. The call to humility before God, the appeal for wisdom rooted in reverence and the plea for divine protection over leaders and troops alike represented more than ceremony. It reflected a conviction that prayer is not a relic of the past but a necessary foundation for national renewal.
As the nation approaches 250 years since its founding, the message delivered at the White House was clear. If America is to turn itself around, it must continue to do what it has done since the beginning. Appeal to heaven.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
