2016 National Day of Prayer

^“1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” 

1 Timothy 2:1-3

Well today is the 2016 National Day of Prayer. Although we should be praying for our country and its leaders everyday, today was set aside for this purpose. 

The United States has observed many unofficial national days of prayer throughout its history until 1952, when President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer. This bill did not establish a specific calendar date for the event, but left it up to each president to designate a date of his choosing. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan fixed the date of the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday of May. Rumors have stirred around that Obama had cancelled the National Day of Prayer for 2016, but those rumors are false! Not that it would make a difference since we as Christians are to do this daily.

There is always controversy regarding our leaders, and there always will be. We will never be of one mind in regards to what is best for our country, but we can agree that the best thing to do as individuals is pray for our leaders and our country, and trust that regardless of the outcome, or who the current President is or will be, God is ultimately in control. Imagine what the world would look like if we spent as much time praying for our leaders and country as we do complaining?

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan said it so eloquently how important prayer is: 

"We all in this room, I know, and we know many millions more everywhere, turn to God in prayer, believe in the power and the spirit of prayer. And yet so often, we direct our prayers to those problems that are immediate to us, knowing that He has promised His help to us when we turn to Him. And yet in a world today that is so torn with strife where the divisions seem to be increasing, not people coming together, within countries, divisions within the people, themselves and all, I wonder if we have ever thought about the greatest tool that we have — 

the power of prayer and God's help.