House GOP Turns to Prayer: Brecheen, Johnson Lead Scripture Reading

Tonight at 8 p.m., Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives will gather on the chamber floor for a public declaration of faith, celebrating prayer, praise, and thanksgiving as Washington prepares to rededicate America as “One Nation Under God.”

Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., will be joined by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Republican members as he leads them in prayer and a Scripture reading on the House floor after votes Tuesday night.

“As we approach the 250th anniversary of our Independence, we must remember the precedent set by our Founders who laid a solid foundation as one nation dependent upon God,” Brecheen said in a statement to The Daily Signal.

“By holding this Special Order recognizing our nation’s historic calls for days of Humiliation, Prayer, and Fasting, my hope is that all those who hear the words of our Founders will remember the necessity of living lives of humility that draw hope from the pardon and forgiveness of our merciful Father in Heaven,” he continued.

Brecheen will read from the Old Testament, ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬–‭20‬, which calls believers to “remember the Lord your God.”

“You shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing in the valleys and hills,” Deuteronomy 8:6–7 states.

“We cannot simply be a nation that just asks for God’s blessing, we must be a nation that is faithful unto Him,” Brecheen wrote.

The 10 Republican representatives who have committed to join Brecheen and Johnson include Chip Roy and Brian Babin of Texas, Gary Palmer and Robert Aderholt of Alabama, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Tracey Mann of Kansas, Mark Alford of Missouri, Mark Harris of North Carolina, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, and Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania.

The congressman will also read from past governmental proclamations of National Days of Prayer made throughout American history. The highlighted proclamations span from 1775, when America was on the brink of the Revolutionary War, and the Continental Congress called for Americans to pray and fast for their country.

Proclamations for these days of prayer have been given by countless presidents and governments since America’s founding as “One Nation Under God.” John Adams issued one in 1798, James Madison during the War of 1812, President Zachary Taylor in 1849 when sickness struck, President James Buchanan as the Civil War loomed, and President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

The special order, led by Brecheen, comes ahead of the Rededicate 250 event this weekend on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has called for Americans “to come together on our National Mall to pray, give thanks, and rededicate America as ‘One Nation Under God.’”

“I urge everyone to tune into the nationwide livestream of America’s rededication ceremony as we once more become “One Nation Under God,” Brecheen concluded.

The Freedom 250 organization will host public officials, pastors, and worship leaders for a day to rededicate America to religious faith.

Confirmed speakers at the May 17 event include Johnson, State Secretary Marco Rubio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Jonathan Roumie from “The Chosen,” Grammy Award winner Chris Tomlin, the Hillsdale College and Liberty University choirs, and others.