National Day of Prayer. Needed Now More Than Ever

On April 17, 1952, a bill initiated by Mr. Conrad Hilton of Hilton Hotels and Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas was passed that read: The President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, 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.

It wasn’t until 1983 that the first National Day of Prayer was observed. It took place at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. with featured speaker Vice President George Bush.  https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about/history

Since that time the NDP has been given greater and lesser attention, as world events dictated.  Now, more divided than ever, tomorrow (May 2) is the National Day of Prayer.   It is never a bad time to pray, in fact, the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Never stop praying.”  It does seem that we have “taken our foot off the gas,” so to speak.  A national tragedy always brought us back together around prayer and patriotism.  Across our history, we have been able to set aside our differences when facing external threats to our nation. Absent such danger over the past several years, however, our unity has suffered.  We are more divided than ever before and the threat is now internal, not from a distant land.  We no longer “agree” on a central truth.  Our government seeks to divide us so that they may stay in power. Henry David Thoreau said it best: “That government is best which governs least.” More powerful than ever before, our leaders will stop at nothing to maintain their control.
 
Today, our nation is comprised of nearly fifteen hundred different race and ethnicity groups and more than 370 different religions. We are more divided politically with each passing year. Unlike previous eras of divide, we are no longer united around consensual origins of truth and morality. It’s not just that we have different compasses; we no longer believe there is a true north to which anyone’s compass can point.  That is why we have a Supreme Court Justice that cannot define what a woman is, chaos on major college campuses over the difference between free speech and racism, and a Department of Justice that just redefined Title IX.  Where can this lead except to further division and chaos?

That outlook seems hopeless, but it is just the pattern of humanity.  Go back and read through the Old Testament Minor Prophets. Hundreds of years passed as God’s people where close then far from Him.  The good news, is really the Good News! John 1:4 tells us The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. Jesus is the answer, always! People will be people and continue to move further and further from Biblical truth.  As they move as a culture, things will get worse.  However, for the individual, Jesus brings hope and purpose.  Rick Warren wrote: “You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.”  

We need a National Day of Prayer now more than ever.  As long as the world continues on its present course, each year we will say it again: “This is the most important election of our life time” and “We need God now more than ever.” These statements will always be true because this world belongs to the evil one. But your soul has been redeemed by Jesus, if only you believe it.  (Romans 10:13)

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Serving the Savior, 
Bro. Jonathan  

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