Today is our National Day of Prayer. 

This annual encouragement to call on God on behalf of our nation is codified in our laws:

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. (36 U.S. Code § 119)

More crucially, it is called for in God’s Word:  

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,  for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) 

The History

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution by Congress and signed into law by President Truman. However, since our founding, presidents have been calling the nation to its knees, urging citizens to cry out to God.

The phrase “separation of church and state” is gospel to those hellbent on removing faith from the public square. However, the man who came up with the phrase — in a single mention in a single letter addressing a specific situation — held a different view:

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)

It is not politically correct, only historically correct: No one would even be talking about a line between church and state had our founders not recognized and honored the direct line between the state and God. 

This Year’s Theme

The theme for the 2017 National Day of Prayer is “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us … Forgive Us … Heal Us!”  It comes from Daniel 9:19: “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!”

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

The White House has been central to today’s event. Donald Trump celebrated first National Day of Prayer as President with faith leaders . The Stream‘s publisher James Robison was among those joining Trump in praying for the nation. 

With the Little Sisters of the Poor at his side, Trump also issued an executive order protecting religious liberty. That, itself is an answer to prayer. 

But there’s no need to wait for Washington to pray.  

From Fairbanks to Ft. Lauderdale, Bangor to Long Beach, millions are already answering the call to prayer. Whether in your privacy of your prayer closet, quietly at your desk, or gathered at your place of worship, will you take part? Will you join our petitioning of the Father? Do you agree there is much this nation has to be forgiven for? (Abortion being only the start of it.) Do you agree this nation needs to be healed and the Divine Hand is needed? Do you believe our elected leaders need prayer? In particular our new President?

Join the National Day of Prayer. 

For more details and information: www.NationalDayofPrayer.org