Cancelling National Day of Prayer Not the Answer

Prayer is communion with God and through our communion with God, we develop our relationship, an intimate relationship with God. God is or at least should be our source for all we need in our lives. The problem is that this generation of people on the earth believe that we can live without God. That we are bigger than God. That is the only way that the leader of our country would decide not to acknowledge a National Day of Prayer and cancel the service in the White House.

Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of state legislatures to open their sessions with prayer in Marsh vs. Chambers (1983).

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. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. 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.

1952   Harry S. Truman declares a National Day of Prayer and signs into law an annual
observance there of – United States Congress passed Joint Resolution 382 on April 17, 1952/ President Truman signs Public Law 82-324 (Public Law 82-324; 66 Stat. 64 – April 17, 1952).

1988   Ronald Reagan signs into law the designation of the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer  – President Reagan signs Public Law 100-307
January 25, 1988, in the Second Session of the One Hundredth Congress (Public Law 100-307—May 5, 1988).

1998  Pub. L. 105-225, August 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1258: The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.

President Obama’s Choice to end the National Day of Prayer service at the White House is a welcome move to some. According to those who do not embrace religious services and believe that we do not belong in the White House, the people’s house. The ideal would be to cancel the National Day of Prayer all together, since our nation has no business endorsing prayer of any kind. This statement can’t be true. Without prayer we would be in a worse situation than we are experiencing right now.

Prayer changes things! From the smallest concern or issue you face, to major issues including health, financial and relationship issues. If you take the time to pray, God will hear you. Prayer doesn’t guarantee an outcome. It does however guarantee that the Creator of the universe will involve himself in your affairs. And I don’t know about you, but I need to know that God, is involved in the affairs of my life.

Prayer changes things! In a nation, the challenges that impact the lives of people are bigger than what we can really manage, despite our attempts as human beings, we need the original maker to handle the challenges that occur when natural disasters occur, or when sickness hits a people group. Who on earth can change those situations? Only God can handle those issues. Our prayers represent the access point for God to involve himself  in the affairs of people, of a nation. If we don’t prayer, God really doesn’t have a legal right to involve himself.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (Msg) …and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.

There is a war between God and Satan for the lives of people. Prayer is a powerful tool that can bind Satan. However, we have to spend time in prayer. The question is: are we ready to see our hearts the way God sees them? Are we ready to see what is inside and will we ask Him to open our eyes or will we continue to lie to ourselves? Will we let God clean our hearts and give them to Him? Could we as a nation ever get back to allowing God to through our prayers heal this nation again?

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