A Prayer to Take Part in Our Nation’s National Day of Prayer - Your Daily Prayer - May 1
A Prayer to Take Part in Our Nation’s National Day of Prayer
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“Pray continually” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Read or Listen Below:
Although it’s only for a day, “The National Day of Prayer reminds us our nation needs all the prayers it can get—all year round,” states Dr. Jerry Newcombe, Executive Director of Providence Forum and author of In the Footsteps of Giants, “with humility as key in our praying for our nation.”
Scripture backs up Newcombe’s words, as 2 Chronicles 7:14 instructs, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Humility is essential when praying for our nation because without it, as Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” When a nation humbles itself, we allow God to lift us, not by our efforts but by His divine hand. As 1 Peter 5:6 encourages, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
Likewise, James 4:10 urges, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” A country in itself, one motivated by human arrogance and pride, cannot stand on its own, as it is set to fall and bring destruction upon itself. Isaiah 13:19 foretold the fall of a nation established in pride. “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.”
National Prayer Is a Part of America’s History
Praying for our nation and our leaders is critical to America’s future. Throughout history, God has moved through the prayers for and by our leaders. Proverbs 21:1 assures, “In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please Him.”
Newcombe writes how, during the Revolutionary War, General Washington sensed the odds of winning were against them, so on July 4th, 1775—a year before independence—he sent this order to his troops: “He requires and expects of all officers and soldiers, not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance on Divine service, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.’"
Prayers Led by America’s Presidents
Over the years, various men have served as the President of the United States. Within the pages of Prayers and Presidents, author and historian William J. Federer shares the history of prayer with our leaders.
33rd President, Harry S. Truman, is credited in 1952 with beginning the National Day of Prayer as an annual observance, stating, “In times of national crisis when we are striving to strengthen the foundations of peace...we stand in special need of Divine support.”
President Richard M. Nixon also urged our nation to pray in April 1970 for the Apollo 13 astronauts who were in crisis. After their safe return, he set aside Sunday, April 19, 1970, as a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
Through 40th President Ronald Reagan, the first Thursday in May was established as our nation’s yearly National Day of Prayer, stating, “Americans in every generation have turned to their Maker in prayer…We have acknowledged...our dependence on Almighty God.” After the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, 43rd President George W. Bush declared Days of Prayer.
Let’s pray:
Dear Father, We come before You today in humility, asking You to soften the hearts of every citizen of the United States so they will turn away from sin and toward You. Move upon our leaders today with Your Holy Spirit, guiding and directing their steps to walk in righteousness and to rule justly. Give each one a holy reverence of You and a godly fear of what happens to nations who set themselves up against You. Free our nation from all pride and arrogance so we may humbly walk in Your ways and bring glory to Your name. Command Your angels, O Lord, to watch over, guard, and protect our nation in all our ways, to deter us from evil, and to lead us in holiness for Your Name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/4maksym
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Listen to the Your Nightly Prayer Podcast
We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer, where you can sign up to receive it every evening in your inbox. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on God. Check out an episode below:
Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below
