President Bush said in his 2005 National Day of Prayer Proclamation that "The National Day of Prayer encourages Americans of every faith to give thanks for God's many blessings and to pray for each other and our Nation."

In a poll in the National Day of Prayer issue of The Presidential Prayer Team's website, more than 40 percent of the respondents said they would observe the day privately, in their own homes. Whether you participate alone or in a community celebration, your prayers will make a difference in our nation's future.

But your commitment to prayer needs to endure all year long. Here are some things you can do.

Pray Daily for Your Children: They Represent Our Future

"Praying for our children doesn't mean that nothing will ever go wrong in their lives," says Stormie Omartian, author of several books on prayer. "But when it does, we don't have to beat ourselves up for not being perfect parents. Besides, it's not being a perfect parent that makes the difference in a child's life, for there are no perfect parents. It's being a praying parent that makes a big difference. And that's something we can all be."

Create a Culture of Prayer in Your Church or Group

A ''culture of prayer'' means that prayer is the first and last thing you do, rather than a tag or an afterthought. This culture can involve everything from a Prayer Pals program to an Internet prayer chain to special gatherings weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual prayer.

Pray for Leaders As Prescribed in 1 Timothy 2:1-2