Dear editor,

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observation 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. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

 

The National Day of Pray has a great significance for us as a nation as it enabled 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 as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

 

The National Day of Prayer belongs to all Americans. It is a day that transcends differences, bringing together citizens from all backgrounds. This day has become a national observance annually across the nation and in Washington D.C. Every year local, state, and federal observances are held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds, in prayer for our nation.

 

This year the National Day of Prayer is of utmost importance with the issues we are faced with in this Nation. All of these issues need to be faced with the wisdom and knowledge supplied by God Almighty. This year’s Theme is “Lift Up the World and Light Up the World!” The Scripture is taken from 2 Samuel 22:29-31 – “For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my god I can leap over a wall. This God – His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuse in Him.”

 

We welcome all to join us as we gather to pray on May 2, 2024, at 903 E 5th Street at the Senior Center in Mountain View, at 6:30 PM, for the National Day of Prayer for our nation.

 

David McPherson (Retired Pastor)