Join Hearts Across America in a Day of Prayerful Unity
- Alicia Searl Contributing Writer
- Updated May 09, 2024
This Thursday, May 2, 2024, marks the 73rd time that our nation has honored the National Day of Prayer. First instated on July 4, 1952, by President Harry S. Truman, with a joint effort of Congress, after an evangelistic movement led by Billy Graham welcomed prayer into our communities and opened an invitation to pray over our nation. Then, in 1988, President Ronald Regan amended the law to make it a permanent day to honor prayer, taking place each year on the first Thursday of May (National Day Calendar).
While this day of recognition has taken on many shapes and forms over the years, The National Day of Prayer is nothing new for our beloved country. In fact, the history of turning to prayer, fasting, and praising God runs deep in the veins of the American people. After all, this nation was brought together by faithful people who strived to remain “united” amidst trails, hostilities, friction, and wars.
According to the National Day of Prayer Organization, “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.”
However, “We the People,” sense the hostile current climate within our country as wars rage on overseas, many struggle with everyday costs and unbearable inflation, violence continues to break out throughout major cities, and a very tense election draws near. Our nation appears to be at a crucial moment and tipping point.
So, as we approach this year’s National Day of Prayer on Thursday and posture our hearts in humble reflection, how should we respond? With open hands and willing hearts!
May this be a day we come together as a body of believers to lift up our beloved but hurting nation to our faithful Father with open hands and pliable hearts? Let’s receive the great mercy God has for His people while softening our hearts to give God all our thanks and praise for His provision.
This Thursday, let’s band together as faithful Americans and pray for God’s sovereignty, protection, justice, healing, and peace that will unify us and allow us, and His believers, to be a light and beacon of hope (Mathew 5:14-16).
A Prayer for Our Nation
O God, we come before you will open hands and soft hearts yearning to receive Your abundant grace and unfailing mercy. We ask for Your mighty hand of protection over our nation. Heal Your people. We are hurting, Lord. As a society, we have lost sight of our identity and worth and the lies of this world are ever so loud. So, we ask that You please grant us the strength and courage to fight these battles with truth, dignity, and grace.
While we have been a nation divided before, we sense a shift that comes with grave concerns and new levels of uncertainty. We ask that You tamper our worries and help us face our fears as we humbly step out in faith, being bold and devoted ambassadors. Flood our homes with Your presence, bring Your Word of Truth into the walls of the church, make Your way back into our schools and public buildings, ignite the faith of our government leaders, and give them integrity, wisdom, and discernment to honor the people, and let us be a country on fire for You.
Help us spread Your truth with love and grace and be Your children on a mission to make Your love and name known. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
"N'o weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,' declares the LORD." - Isaiah 54:17
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