✝👏 National Day of Prayer 👏✝

The John 13:34 

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." 

John 13:34 (NIV)

Today is, May 6, 2020 National Day of Prayer!  The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Many people are unaware that they live in a nation that has a law in place requiring our President proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year on the first Thursday in May. It is Public Law 105-225 that the President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

Prayer brings people together. Prayer builds bridges between opposing persons and even political parties. Prayer reminds us that we are created in God's image and He desires for us to represent Him everywhere we go.

For me, as a citizen and resident of the United States and as a believer in Christ Jesus, I not only have a spiritual responsibility according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray, but a civic duty as well to heed our President’s call to stand in the gap for our nation. Who but God’s people have the ability to enter into the very throne room of Heaven with prayers and petitions!

The theme for this year as per national day of prayer website is  Prayer God's Glory across the earth.

History of the National Day of Prayer
Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it.
—Thomas Jefferson, 1808

"There is no great movement of God that has ever occurred that does not begin with the extraordinary prayer of God's people." Dr. Ronnie Floyd

WHAT IS PRAYER?

In a society riddled with hate and division, the word "love" almost seems like a foreign concept. In years past, our nation has faced some daunting issues, yet the one thing that still seems to unify the American people is prayer.

Depending on the denomination you identify with, prayer can hold countless meanings. In its simplest form, prayer is communicating with God. Prayer is a powerful force that, when coupled with love, can produce great outcomes. When it comes to prayer, love is key.

At this crucial time for our nation, we can do nothing more important than pray. The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation as it enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call for us to humbly come before God, seeking his guidance for our leaders and his grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Every year, local, state, and federal observances were held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds in prayer for our nation. It is estimated that over two million people attended more than 30,000 observances – organized by approximately 40,000 volunteers. At state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls, and in schools, businesses, churches and homes, people stopped their activities and gathered for prayer.(http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about)

• Historical Summary
  • 1775 – The first Continental Congress calls for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting.
  • 1863 – Abraham Lincoln calls for a National Day of Prayer.
  • 1952 – Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64—April 17, 1952).
  • 1988 – Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307 January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).
  • 1998 – Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. This law was signed by President Clinton.

2020 NATIONAL PRAYER FOR AMERICA

Lord, we exist to give You glory. We exist

because of Your glory, and in Your glory, as

our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We

give you thanks and praise for every breath

and moment You have given to us. We

repent of our sin; for the shameful things

we have done against You and for our

silence when we did not speak up to

proclaim Your Name, profess Your Word,

or protect and practice Your will.

We ask Your forgiveness.

We pray that the knowledge of the glory of

the Lord will spread across our nation and

the entire earth as we seek Your Kingdom

and righteousness; as we walk in

obedience to You, and in humble unity,

love one another. Jesus, the Bible says that

You are “the knowledge of the glory of the

Lord.” You have taught us to pray,

commanded us to love, and commissioned

us to share Your gospel of grace. Your

glory fills our hearts and families, it

overflows into our neighborhoods,

workplaces, campuses, churches,

entertainment, and media. We give thanks

for our military and ask that Your glory

would spread to, and through them as they

preserve freedom around the world. We

pray for our government, that all of our

leaders and laws would be filled with Your

glory, that they would magnify Your Holy

Word and honor Your will and ways. We

pray that Your grace and glory would

spread to bring hope to the hopeless, and

love where there is hurt and hate. God, use

us as we pray your promise, that “the earth

will be filled with the knowledge of the

glory of the Lord as the waters

cover the sea.” In Jesus Name, Amen!

Kathy Branzell

President, National Day of Prayer Task Force

Signing Out
Dr. Destiny Shaw aka Big Sister On Point