The National Day of Prayer is observed annually on the first Thursday of May. Its main purpose is to pray for the nation. The United Congress created a joint resolution in 1952, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. The first prayer call was made in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual National Day of Prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.[1]
Since the founding fathers sought wisdom from God when faced with critical decisions, the National Day of Prayer has had significance for us as a nation. Notice, I said, has had significance. I say that because spiritual disciplines and moral values have been on a slippery slope and spinning downward for years in America. Nevertheless, God's people in the United States of America, those who are called by His name, have an obligation to call upon their Sovereign God to intervene in the affairs of this nation. Recognizing the National Day of Prayer serves as a reminder that we still need the God of the Bible. Governing leaders today need His wisdom and guidance.
The National Day of Prayer is a call to come humbly to the Throne of Grace to obtain mercy and find the grace we as a people need. The National Day of Prayer must remain at the center of our nation and remind us that prayer is just as important in this generation as it was the founding fathers centuries ago. We need God’s mercy and grace. Since this country was birthed in prayer and reverence for the God of the Bible, “In God We Trust” must be the truth that governs this nation
[1] (National Day of Prayer n.d.)
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