George Washington’s Prayer at Valley Forge
As I was looking for a video in my locally owned book store I looked up to see one of my favorite pictures on displayed. A ray of sunlight pierced the clouds outside and was shining directly on the picture as to tell me, when in doubt or struggling when all seems lost look to the Lord for help. As I stood there gazing upon the picture I realised I have lost my way and the faith that I had in the All Mighty and what he could do for me if I had but just a little faith in him that all things will work out. Now who better to be an example of this than our foundind father on his knee in prayer to the one and only being that could help him in his momment of need. I pray that we can look to our Heavenly Fater and his son Jesus Christ and ask for help in bringing this great country back from the brink to the country he knew that it could be and was. I love my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and testify that he lives and gave his life for us and will protect this land as long as we whorship him and give thanks to him for all that he has done for us.I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
With all my love,
Greg
As I was looking for this online I found this story which is a condensed version of the actually historical account.
"The Eye Witness Testimony of Isaac Potts" (found below)
George Washington's Prayer at Valley Forge
George Washington is regarded for many things not the least of which is being a great man of faith and of prayer. Last night I was listening to John read to the girls the story of George Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge from our former secretary of education, William J. Bennett’s “Children’s Book of Virtues.” I thought these excerpts of the story would inspire you prayer warriors out there. (even the British ones – LOL)
A Prayer at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, during the revolutionary war, in the freezing cold month of December -
“Snow drifted in at the windows
because there was no glass. Cold rain dripped through the roofs.
Sometimes they (soldiers) sat up all night crowding
around the fire to keep from freezing to death. Their clothing was
worse than their shelter. The whole army was in rags. Many of the men
had no shirts. Even more were
without shoes. Wherever they walked, the snow was marked with their
blood. Around the camp, the groans of men who were sick and starving
filled the air…”
“One cold day, a quaker farmer was
walking along a creek at Valley Forge when he heard the murmur of a
solemn voice… Through the thicket he saw a lone man, on
his knees, in the snow. It was General Washington. His cheeks were
wet with tears as he prayed to the Almighty for help and guidance…”
“The farmer quietly slipped away.
When he reached home, he said to his wife, “Hannah, my dear! All is
well! The Americans will win their
independence! George Washington will succeed!”
“What makes thee think so, Isaac?” she asked.
“I have heard him pray, Hannah, out in the woods today,” he said.
“If there is anyone on this earth the Lord will listen to, it is this brave man. He will listen
Hannah. Rest assured, He will.”
“The farmer was right. When the last
of the harsh winter melted away, and a soft green crept over the
hillsides, George Washington’s army still lived.
Against all odds, they had outlasted the cruel Valley Forge snows.
With new hope, the patriots marched away behind their brave commander
to fight the British and win their
freedom.”
Oh that it would be said of me ”All is well – I have heard her pray.”
Love to all,
April
The Prayer At Valley Forge
Arnold Friberg painted
"The Prayer at Valley Forge" to celebrate our
country's bicentennial in 1976. Since then, Arnold Friberg's now famous
painting has become an important part of American history,
reminding us of the days our country hung in the balance. Many of
you are familiar with Arnold Friberg's painting, but do you know the
story behind the painting?
It was during the cold and long winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge that General George Washington
sought God's help on his knees.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
This
story is well documented in the historical records. Isaac Potts, 26
years old, was a resident of
Valley Forge, and as a Quaker was opposed to the war. He supervised
the grinding of the grain which George Washington ordered the
neighboring farmers to bring to his army. The fullest account of
Potts' testimony is in the "Diary and Remembrances" of Rev.
Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, a Presbyterian minister and a Princeton
graduate (Original Manuscript at the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania; Call no. PHi.Am.1561-1568).
"I was riding with him (Mr. Potts) near Valley Forge, where the army lay during the war of the Revolution. Mr. Potts was a Senator in our state and a Whig. I told him I was agreeably surprised to find him a friend to his country as the Quakers were mostly Tories. He said, "It was so and I was a rank Tory once, for I never believed that America could proceed against Great Britain whose fleets and armies covered the land and ocean. But something very extraordinary converted me to the good faith.""What was that?" I inquired. "Do you see that woods, and that plain?" It was about a quarter of a mile from the place we were riding. "There," said he, "laid the army of Washington. It was a most distressing time of ye war, and all were for giving up the ship but that one good man. In that woods," pointing to a close in view, "I heard a plaintive sound, as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis and the cause of the country, of humanity, and of the world."Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home and told my wife, 'I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before', and just related to her what I had seen and heard and observed. We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. We thought it was the cause of God, and America could prevail."
. . . . . . . . . . . .
The
respect for Washington was so great that the first proposal for his new
title, recommended by
John Adams, was, "His Glorious Highness, The President of the United
States and Glorious Protector of Our Liberties." Congressman William
McClay from Pennsylvania basically said, "What's with
Adams? Doesn't he understand what we fought this thing for? It's to
get rid of all of that stuff." But this story illustrates the high
regard congress had for Washington.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Dr.
James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, said about George
Washington, "The reason that I
consider him to be such a hero is... almost no one in human
experience gives up power willingly. Power is intoxicating and once you
have it you don't want to let it go and [Washington]
could have been king. He could have been monarch for the rest of his
life and passed it on to his heirs, but he served two terms as
president and would not accept a third term. You talk about
greatness. That really speaks to me."
The
world was watching during this moment of when George Washington said he
would give up his power
after two terms as President of the United States. King George of
England said, "If he gives up his power, as he said he would, he will be
the greatest man in the world." And George
Washington did it without a moments hesitation. Washington said in
one of his letters, "I'd rather be back on my farm in Virginia than be
emperor of the world."
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 - President George Washington
"WHEREAS it is the duty of all
nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will,
to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His
protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by
their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the
United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to
be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and
signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an
opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their
safety and happiness:
"NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and
assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by
the people of these States to the service of that great
and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that
was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering
unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind
care and protection of the people of this country previous to their
becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable
interpositions of His providence in the course and
conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility,
union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and
rational manner in which we have been enable to establish
Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and
particularly the national one now lately instituted;- for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we
have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;- and, in general,
for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer
upon us.
"And also, that we may then unite in
most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and
Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our
national and other transgressions; - to enable us all, whether in
public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties
properly and punctually; to render our National Government
a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of
wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed
and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and
nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to
bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the
knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the
increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto
all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be
best.
"GIVEN under my hand, at the city of
New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine."
Signed: George Washington
Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
Source: The Massachusetts Centinel, Wednesday, October 14, 1789
Very good website. I liked it very much.
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