The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Opening Prayer

07/14/2026
Chaplain Margaret Grun Kibben

Bless us, O Lord, this day as we place our trust in You. Sure of Your guidance and hopeful for Your favor, we put our confidence in You.

Let our faith in You be our source of strength. Like a tree planted by the water, may everything that is within us reach to You to sustain us in the work set before us.

When the heat of argument or the intensity of debate becomes too much, may we draw from Your living waters the refreshment and calm of Your quiet presence.

When our worries and frustrations inflame our words and ignite our anger, may we find coolness in the streams of Your peace and righteousness.

Lord, search our hearts that they would be found faithful. Examine our minds that they would prove blameless. Reward us according to our conduct this day and judge us according to the fruit of our deeds.

We appeal to Your mercy and pray in Your holy name with gratitude for Your undeserved grace. Amen.

Jeremiah 17:7–10

Thought of the Week

To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.

—Thomas Aquinas

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