Why This Group Is Asking Christians to Pray for the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair

A Christian pro-family group has put out a national call for prayer for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) as a showdown in Washington looms over the replacement of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

The FAMiLY LEADER, based in Grassley’s home state, issued the following statement Monday morning:

“America lost a champion defender of our religious liberty—indeed all our liberties—with the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia recently. And as we’ve seen all too often recently, those liberties hang by a thread in a sharply divided Supreme Court. The absence of Justice Scalia’s wisdom and restraint will be sorely missed.

“Now, a great responsibility in the process of Scalia’s replacement falls upon a fellow Iowan, Sen. Chuck Grassley. As chairman of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Grassley will be leading the hearings on confirming or rejecting candidates the president will nominate to fill Scalia’s shoes.

“Will you pray with us for Sen. Grassley?”

The FAMiLY LEADER asks Christians across the country to pray that Grassley will have both wisdom and courage to choose what is best for the nation over what may be most expedient politically. Additionally, they are asked to pray that he will be “given words to speak bold convictions and to reveal the hearts of the nominees,” and that he will be “encouraged when under fire” for standing on those convictions.

The pro-family group also asked Christians to pray for President Obama, as well as for the nation’s next president, whomever it may be:

“It falls upon the president to nominate the justices of the Supreme Court. These justices, in turn, have historically instigated seismic shifts in the American culture. Pray our president be given insight into the character and convictions of potential nominees. Pray that the president will choose those nominees who will, through their decisions, both honor God and bless the people of our nation.

“America is truly at a crossroads. Will you pray?”