Our Father and God, we praise you today for who you are.  We praise you, Lord, that you are an awesome God, worthy of our standing in reverence of your power and your greatness, and your glory.

We acknowledge today that we are not just in the presence of members or being watched by this State but,  Lord, we are in your presence today.  The things that we do today you behold, you observe.  We praise you, Lord, for your purity, your integrity, your wholeness and that you are undefiled and righteous.  We praise you, Lord, that while we do things wrong you never do.  We praise you, our God, that you are one and that you have created us in all of the majestic complexity and splendor in which we exist.  God, you fashioned us and made us and for that we praise you.  We thank you today, our great God.

We thank you for this Senate, for each Senator, for each family, for each Representative.  Lord, we thank you for the activity that goes on here every day; that we live in a country and a state of civility; where there are laws that are made and followed.

We thank you, Lord, that there is a system in our state that affirms and appreciates religious expression and even provides the freedom for people to believe in one God: the freedom for people to believe in Jesus Christ; or to believe in that which is what they believe in their own conscience.  Thank you, Lord, that you have given us this freedom and for the soldiers who have given their lives so we can enjoy it.

Thank you, Father, for those who will protect us today; those who are involved in public service – the firemen, police officers, security workers, federal agents, state agents.  Thank you, Father, for the security we enjoy that our own beloved citizens help provide and that ultimately you sustain.  Then, Father, we thank you that you are a God who saves; that you care about people; that you deliver people; that you have sought people out and have given us a Savior.

We come to you today, great God, asking you for some things; thanking you that you can hear us and we ask you today that our Senate, this government, will remember her purpose to restrain evil and reward that which is good.  Today, as so many issues are deliberated and great wisdom is needed, I pray that you will provide it. I pray that we can have unity in this body around the truth and around that which pleases you. I pray, Father, that this body would value every human life and every human being and, God, that this body and this state and our nation would enjoy peace.  Then, Father, we ask also for the families of our state, that our families could be strengthened and that the legislation deliberated, considered and passed in this body would be a blessing to families.  We pray these things in the wonderful, matchless name, the great name of our God and Savior.  I pray them in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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The transcript of the prayer offered by the Rev. Dr. Clayton Cloer, First Baptist Church of Central Florida, Orlando, was made by the Florida Senate and printed in the April 28 edition of the Journal of the Senate, with minor corrections made by Dr. Cloer.