“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
Our God is sovereign, all-knowing, and in control. Though our country faces economic strains, societal divisions, the bias of media outlets, a decline in morals and values, and the uncertainty of our future, nothing shocks or catches our Heavenly Father by surprise.
Today, Thursday, May 4th, is the National Day of Prayer. Maybe you’re gathered around a flagpole at city hall with local pastors praying together for our nation, leaders, cities, schools, and for Jesus to return?!
Prayer is powerful and effective, and God is faithful.
In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (NIV).
How was the National Day of Prayer established? According to Wikipedia, The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” The president is required by law to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.
The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952 as part of the public reaction to the threats perceived in the Korean War, by President Harry S. Truman.
This year in 2023, the power of prayer is needed more so than in recent history. Our country was established on the belief in the one true God and in the freedoms we hold sacred. Those values are exceedingly being compromised.
The NationalDayofPrayer.org shared this, “As we Pray for America whose pledge of allegiance recounts that we are “one nation under God,” and whose currency states that it is “in God we trust,” we want Americans to encounter the God who rules over their country.” He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, He who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the LORD God Almighty is His name.”—Amos 4:13 NIV”
By the grace of God, we are given the privilege of talking with the King of kings and LORD of Lords. He knows our heavy hearts and sees our crumbling world.
Let us not be deceived by the enemy and think that there isn’t anything we can do to stop us from sliding down this slippery slope. Nope.
Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Spending time with God, both sharing and listening, allows peace to permeate our hearts. We receive hope and perspective, confidence and courage.
Brothers and sisters in Christ across our nation are praying for renewal and revival.
It starts with each one of us individually. When we repent, turn away from the thoughts and actions we know are wrong, and turn to God in worship, gratitude, prayer, service, and the Scriptures, our lives become light in this darkness.
Today with boldness and truth, let us join together with one voice, lifting our nation’s leaders, our military, judges, city officials, school boards, churches, businesses, and our families to God in prayer.
Our nation has made it through challenging times with the power of prayer and our faith in God. Let’s remember now how prayer has positively impacted our country…
The Nationaldayofprayer.org shared this:
As American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt called for our nation to unite in prayer. He also offered a prayer to prepare each citizen for the road ahead.
“Let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee.” – FDR
The victory that followed on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day, began the march to Berlin. Eighteen months later, WWII was over and one of the world’s greatest evils had been defeated. The prayers of a nation had been a powerful force.
Prayer has always been used in this country for guidance, protection and strength-even before we were a nation or a handful of colonies. The Pilgrims at Plymouth relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our founding fathers also called for prayer during the Constitutional Convention. In their eyes, our recently created nation and freedoms were a direct gift from God. And being a gift from God, there was only one way to insure protection-through prayer.
“It is the duty of nations, as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God.” – Abraham Lincoln
“It is the duty of nations, as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God.”
– Abraham Lincoln
When it came to the fate of the nation, Abraham Lincoln practiced what he preached. Before the battle of Gettysburg, he turned to God in prayer. He said that he went to his room one day, locked the door and got down on his knees before Almighty God and prayed mightily for victory at Gettysburg. Won by the Union, Gettysburg was one of the turning points in the war that ended slavery and kept the states united.
Today the need for prayer is as great as ever. Our nation again faces battlefields, along with an epidemic of broken homes, violence, sexual immorality and social strife. As the heroes of our nation did in the past, we must again bow our heads in prayer. We must ask the Lord to bless our leaders with wisdom and protection, and that we will have the fortitude to overcome the challenges at hand. If Roosevelt, the Pilgrims and Lincoln never underestimated the power of prayer, neither should we.
It is our goal that you, your family, and friends would participate in the National Day of Prayer. We pray that the event impacts your life, and that praying for our nation moves from a one-day event to a lifetime endeavor. So join us on the first Thursday in May and pray with conviction that God would continue to shed His grace on thee.
To watch and pray along with leaders for the National Day of Prayer, go to: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/2023_broadcast
May God bless America, the land of the free with His wisdom, peace, and protection. AMEN.
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