Did you know the National Day of Prayer (NDP) takes place on Thursday, May 2? Did you even know there is a National Day of Prayer set aside each year to pray for our country? There is and has been for some time.
What is the National Day of Prayer?
According to the NDP website, “the first call to prayer was in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. The call to prayer continued when President Lincoln’s proclaimed 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.” The theme for this year is “Love One Another.”
How can we participate?
Activities are planned and posted on the NDP website, https://nationaldayofprayer.org/events.
You can also check with your church or community websites to see if they have events in your area.
Is there an activity we can do at home with our kids?
Yes! Find an empty jar and seven popsicle sticks. Print on a stick: Government, Education, Military, Media Arts, Business, Education, Church, and family. Or choose a specific area, say Government, and print on the sticks: President, Vice President, Congress, Supreme Court, Governor, Mayor and first responders.
Each day until May 2, ask one of your children to choose a stick. Then pray for specific leaders or people who work in these areas of influence. Use the John 13:34 theme verse as your guide, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”
Below are some examples of prayers from the NDP website for the seven centers of influence. Adapt them, if necessary, for the ages of your children.
Government: Pray for these leaders and civil servants to Love One Another by valuing one another, respecting one another, and working together for the greater good of our nation.
Military: Pray for all military leaders and personnel to Love One Another because love is a powerful force when unity is needed for victory.
Media Arts: Pray for all persons who are working in media and arts to Love One Another by respecting all persons and sharing inspirational stories that show the power of love.
Business: Pray for business leaders to understand their great opportunity to create powerful, effective, and productive teams and businesses that win when they Love One Another.
Education: Pray for administrators, teachers, and faculty teams who will Love One Another and show love and respect for every student. Pray for students to rise up together, loving one another and making a difference in the future of America.
Church: Pray for pastors and churches to model Jesus’ words, Love One Another, to a world that needs the love of Christ desperately. Raise up a Love One Another movement across America.
Family: Pray for families to live Jesus’ teaching, Love One Another, to create families that follow the Bible and practice love and forgiveness.
What can we do after the National Day of Prayer?
Of course, we don’t need to stop praying for our country after May 2. Sarah Lowe, South Center National Area Director for NDP, suggests continuing to pray for influential leaders once a month. Her family wrote notes to their local leaders and visited fire and police station to get to know them in person.
If you have others ideas on how to pray for our country, share with other readers by leaving a comment below.