National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The purpose of the National Day of Prayer is to call every American to personal repentance and prayer for our families, our communities, and our nation.

Prayer is one of the most precious gifts God has given to us. He opens His ears and inclines His heart to hear us. He is concerned for us, and desires that we bring our needs and the needs of others to Him. But He there is also a realization when we enter in the presence of a God who is eternal and holy; the Lord’s brilliance reveals our personal sin and the sins of our communities and nation. Prayer is also an opportunity for confession and repentance. It is a time when we can find the mercy of God and a new beginning.

During this day dedicated to reflection and prayer, let us not seek God’s blessings only; let us seek God Himself. Open your hearts to cry out to Him for wisdom and understanding, for mercy and grace, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let us rededicate ourselves to being a people of prayer who do not just offer a brief word before our meals, but who pray without ceasing.

From the Presidential Proclamation –
“…I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2016, as National Day of Prayer.  I invite the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, in accordance with their own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I join all people of faith in asking for God’s continued guidance, mercy, and protection as we seek a more just world.”