Donald Miller’s Prayer at the DNC

I know this is almost 24 hours late, but I did want to weigh in on “Don Miller’s” prayer at the DNC last night. A couple of observations...

1. He was “Don Miller,” instead of the more familiar Donald Miller.
   

2. He looked nice in a suit and tie and the ride across the country has been good to him as it looked like he has lost about 100 lbs in the last year. Don - I’m inspired!
   
   
3. He was obviously reading from a TelePrompTer. I have seen a couple of people say he was “praying with his eyes open.” No, he was reading with his eyes open. That is unusual form for Miller. When I have seen him, although obviously organized, he appears to ramble more than he is scripted. The prayer was entirely scripted (I am sure by him).
   
   
4. If one wanted to, I am sure they could over-analyze the content of the prayer. Social justice, party platform, down with capitalism... blah, blah, blah. Who cares? It was like less than a minute.
   
   
5. What most excited me was that Donald Miller gave the greatest example to every believer that is ever called upon to pray in a public setting how to close a prayer! While the pronouns during the entire prayer were “we,” he ended this way, “I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice. Let Him be our example. Amen." Did you notice the “I” ? I love it. He prayed in the name of the son Jesus, to the Father. Thank you Donald Miller for praying in Jesus’ name. We don’t agree on everything, but I thank you for speaking Jesus’ name!
   
   
6. FOX News obviously did not think the closing benediction was worthy of coverage. That is too bad.
   

The whole transcript:

Please join me for the next few moments in our Benediction.

"Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.

Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world?

A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.

Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world?

Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.

Lastly, father, unify us.

Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.

And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.

God we know that you are good.

Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Amen."

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b79m3fJfmuA