Prayer breakfast features stories of faith, God's providence

Few days of the year are more inspiring than the President�s Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast began in 1953 during the Eisenhower administration. Now 66, years later, more than 3,000 people attended the annual breakfast on Thursday morning in Washington, D.C.

I attended the breakfast in 2005 when then-congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson was co-chairwoman of the breakfast. It remains one of the more memorable events in my life, seeing members of both parties gathered not as Republicans and Democrats but as children of God who sought the Almighty�s guidance and direction.

Since then, I always look forward to watching and reading about the prayer breakfast. The messages are inspiring. And they challenge me to grow in my own faith.

Speakers talk about the importance of their relationship with Christ, the power of prayer and seeking to do the Lord�s work on earth. And of course, prayers are offered throughout the morning.

One of the first speakers this year was Maj. Scott Smiley. An Army veteran, Smiley was injured by a suicide bomber while serving in Iraq. The explosion left him paralyzed on one side and completely blind.

Smiley regained used of his side that was paralyzed.

�I truly felt worthless,� he said about the immediate time at Walter Reed Medical Center following the explosion. But he was reminded of his favorite verse, Philippians 4:13: �I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.�

�It was the love of God and my family that enabled me to believe in that verse again,� Smiley said with his wife, Tiffany, by his side.

Smiley would become the Army�s first blind officer and company commander. He�s also completed the Iron Man, earned an MBA from Duke and is the author of the book �Hope Unseen.�

Smiley told the crowd, �It was this love and support that I began to understand that we are not fighting in a world that is seen, but in a world that is unseen. And it is the faith that we have that carries us forward every moment. No matter what trials and tribulations may face us, if we stay the true course, we can live with a purpose and live with a faith. And we all can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.�

President Donald Trump shared several inspiring stories of individuals who have stood on God�s promises.

As he did in his State of the Union address, the president talked about North Korean defector Ji Seong-ho.

�Before his escape, when Seong-ho was being tortured by North Korean officials, there was one thing that kept him from losing hope: Over and over again, he recited the Lord�s Prayer,� Trump said. �He prayed for peace, and he prayed for freedom. And now, as you know, Seong-ho is free and a symbol of hope to millions of people all around the world.�

The president also shared the story of Sophia Marie Campa Peters, 9, who suffered from a rare disease that caused strokes. Her doctors told her she would never walk again.

She was not to be deterred. The president quoted Peters, who declared to her doctors: �If you�re only going to talk about what I can�t do, then I don�t want to hear it � just let me try to walk.� And she did.

Trump said doctors told her mother: �This little girl has God on her side.�

Full of faith and determination, the youngster captured the attention of the world recently when she used social media and asked for prayer before an upcoming high-risk surgery.

Not only did she survive the surgery, but she continues to recover and was able to attend the prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C.

�Heroes like Sophia come from all across our country and from every different background,� Trump said. �But they all share one thing in common: Through their love, their courage, their sacrifice, we glimpse the grace of almighty God.�

We need stories of inspiration. Stories of individuals who put their faith in Christ as they deal with trials in life. It�s encouragement that is needed more than one day per year.

The president gave these words as he closed: �As long as we open our eyes to God�s grace and open our hearts to God�s love, then America will forever be the land of the free, the home of the brave, and a light unto all nations.�

Amen.

Lucas Presson is the assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian.