Today Is The National Day Of Prayer

We could sure use some at this time

Photo by christopher catbagan on Unsplash

What is the National Day of Prayer?

The First Thursday of May

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people 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.

• 1988 – The law was amended and signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May (100-307).

Presidents since then have made a formal declaration each year. The White House actually released a declaration for this year yesterday.

A prayer for the nation

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I thought this a good prayer even though it has a confusing origin. It was attributed to Thomas Jefferson in 1801 but could not be verified. More probably, it’s from the American Book of Common Prayer, and has been attributed to George Lyman Locke (1835-1919), a Rhode Island minister.

At any rate, I felt it very applicable to our current situations.

A helpful note how to pray from an “Expert” in the Book of Mark

²³ “Truly^[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Never pray in desperation. Pray in absolute confidence!