Recognizing Faith Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Miller for giving me this opportunity and for hosting tonight's Special Order recognizing this week as Faith Week. I am deeply honored to stand here tonight to express my personal faith and all that God's Word has meant to me in my life.

As I reflect on the timeless teachings of the Bible, I am reminded of the divine wisdom of Exodus. In those sacred passages, God established laws and governance to uphold justice and righteousness.

I am looking right now at the full face of Moses, who led with unwavering faith and divine guidance, looking down on this body. So too must we ensure that our actions align with the purpose of restraining evil and promoting good in our society.

Above the flag is ``In God We Trust.'' That means we are without excuse in this body.

During times of such division and uncertainty, the words of Mark 3:24 resonate deeply within me, reminding us that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

It is through our collective faith and drawing near to the Word of God that we find the path to unity, truth, and freedom.

Joshua 1:8 speaks to the power of Scripture in guiding our actions and decisions. In fact, God's instructions to Joshua in Joshua 1:8 is one of the greatest promises in the Bible. He says do not let this book of law depart from your lips. Be careful to do what it says. Meditate on it night and day, and you will be prosperous and successful.

As we meditate upon God's Word, we are promised prosperity and success. Like Abraham, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness, we must trust in God's promises and live obediently by His Word.

Our lead House ministry is reading through the ``Change Your Life'' study Bible. Easter was especially meaningful this year, as I was reading on that particular day about the transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9:28-36.

Now, you have to understand there were three witnesses here in this passage, which I would like to share with you. Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up onto the mountain to pray.

He was praying, and while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which was about to be brought to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him, and they were afraid.

As the men were leaving, Peter said to Jesus: ``Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.''

As he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud saying: ``This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him.''

``Listen to Him.''

Jesus also said in Luke: ``If you love me, you will obey my commands.''

During this special week, let us seek God's blessing and protection as we navigate through the complexities of government and acknowledge his sovereignty over all things. During this special week, we are aware of so many things that profoundly impact our faith. One is hope guiding us through life's trials and triumphs, and it unites us in a bond stronger than earthly ties.

I hope those watching will join me in reaffirming our commitment to worship the Lord and to draw strength and inspiration from His Word.

What was so meaningful at Easter was that here we had three eyewitnesses of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ.

In 2018, Billy Graham was laid in honor in our Capitol. I have read many of his inaugural prayers as a reminder, and every week for the past 16 years, it has resonated with me. This prayer was given in 1969. It is as if Billy Graham was predicting the future.

He said:

Our Father and our God, Thou hast said: ``Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.''

We recognize on this historic occasion that we are ``a nation under God.'' We thank Thee for this torch of faith handed to us by our forefathers. May we never let it be extinguished. Thou alone hast given us our prosperity, our freedom, and our power. This faith in God is our heritage and our foundation.

Thou hast warned us in the Scriptures: ``If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?''

As George Washington reminded us in his farewell address, morality and faith are the pillars of our society. We confess these pillars are being eroded in an increasingly materialistic and permissive society.

The whole world is watching to see if the faith of our fathers will stand the trials and tests of this hour. Too long we have neglected Thy Word and ignored Thy laws.

Mr. Speaker, does that sound familiar today?

Too long we have tried to solve our problems without reference to Thee. Too often we have tried to live by bread alone. We have sown to the wind and are now reaping a whirlwind of crime, division, and rebellion.

And now with the wages of our sins staring us in the face, we remember Thy Words: ``If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.''

Mr. Speaker, I also served as the chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. One thing that is important to highlight is that prayer has played a vital role in strengthening the fabric of our society and the bond in this Chamber. The Congressional Prayer Caucus is a bipartisan congressional Member caucus consisting of Members from across the country who meet at first votes every week and who believe in the power of prayer.

Mr. Speaker, you can go to my website, Allen.House.gov, and submit your prayer requests, and members of the prayer caucus will lift you up in prayer.

May God bless each of us abundantly during this Faith Week as we seek to help others understand the faith that we share and that we hold so dearly.

Mr. Speaker, as we walk in his faith and righteousness, we are grateful. May God's grace be upon you and the peace of Jesus be with you.

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