Our old Uncle Ben Franklin was born on January 17th, 1706. Since the celebration of his 300th birthday will soon be upon us (this coming January), the people of Philadelphia are preparing a large birthday celebration in his honor. Therefore, I thought youd like to know what Uncle Ben wrote to us about prayer in his autobiography. Here is his legacy to us:

and conceiving God to be the fountain of Wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit His assistance for obtaining it; to this end, I formed the following prayer which was prefixed to my tables of (self) examination for daily use:

Oh powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to Thy other children as the only return in my power to thank You for Thy continual favors to me.

Ben Franklin also mentioned in his autobiography, that he said this very same prayer every day for fifty years! I wonder if we have the wisdom to know our truest interest? I wonder, do we perform enough kind offices to Gods other children? In his own way, Ben has given us a gift, an inheritance, and a truly inspiring birthday gift, on the day when we will again say to him: Happy Birthday Ben Franklin!

P.S. When you write your autobiography, will you be able to tell your readers about the prayer you prayed every day - for fifty years or more? What will that prayer be?

Note:The above is an excerpt from my book: Anchors Of Faith,by Terrance L. Weber, available on my website:
http://craftyones.net/originalsbyweber

Terry L. Weber