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, 2021 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 “LORD pour out Your LOVE, LIFE, and LIBERTY.”
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.
2021 NATIONAL PRAYER FOR AMERICA
Lord, we look up and see the billions of stars
You created, and we praise You. We look
around and see the billions of people You
created in Your image; uniquely, fearfully,
wonderfully, and we thank You. Wrap us in Your
Spirit and unite us in Your family, Lord.
Thank You for loving us first. In Your love for the
whole world, You sent Your Son to save us.
Jesus, in You alone we have abundant and
everlasting life. Thank you for teaching and
leading us to love and live, fruitful, and faithful.
In Your life, death, resurrection, and ascension
You are our Lord, our love, our life, and our
liberty. You came to “bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives and
freedom to prisoners.” You have freed us from
the penalty and shame of our sin; free to live
life as You designed and Your destiny
for our Nation.
Spirit search us, convict us, as we repent for
our sin and the sins of America. Please cleanse,
fill, and send us. We rejoice, knowing that Your
forgiveness makes us acceptable and effective
vessels for Your love, life and liberty in our
family, church, education, workplace, military,
government, art, entertainment, and media.
We pray that America will be united in love to
serve You with all our hearts, all our ways, and
all of our days. Unite us to pray, love; to live and
walk by the Spirit. Conform and transform us
as we pray and proclaim, “Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.”
We pray this is the name of Jesus, Amen.
Kathy Branzell
President, National Day of Prayer Task Force
Signing Out
Dr. Cassie Shaw
aka Big Sister On Point
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