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While Thursday, May 3, is our National Day of Prayer, we must be vigilant to pray for America consistently and even daily. These are our four major prayer priorities for America in the month of May. Oh, wouldn’t it be incredible if millions of Americans could unite in prayer this month for the Lord to move in these four major areas in America? Tell your friends, share these prayer points with them, with pastors, church leaders, business and educational leaders. Let’s join in clear agreement, visible union, and extraordinary prayer for these priorities during May.
1. ASK GOD TO BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord—the people He has chosen to be His own possession!” Psalm 33:12
“Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2
“They all were continually united in prayer.” Acts 1:14
Theme and VerseNational Day of Prayer Theme for 2018The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
Prayer brings people together. Prayer builds bridges between opposing persons and even political parties. Prayer reminds us that we are created in God's image and He desires for us to represent Him everywhere we go. Prayer brings UNITY. In 2018, our theme will be Pray for America - UNITY, based upon Ephesians 4:3 which challenges us to mobilize unified public prayer for America, "Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Our hope is that individuals, churches, and spiritual leaders in America, will humble ourselves and unify in prevailing prayer for the next great move of God in America. We can come together in clear agreement that this is our greatest need. We can become a visible union, standing together in prayer. We can pray more than ever before, and practice extraordinary prayer for the next great move of God in America that will catapult the message of the gospel nationally and internationally. Pray with us. Sponsor an event in your community. Become a volunteer. Order resources to help promote an event in your area. Support the National Day of Prayer financially. Together, we can mobilize unified public prayer for America! "There is no great movement of God that has ever occurred that does not begin with the extraordinary prayer of God's people." Dr. Ronnie Floyd First Call of Prayer in 1775Because 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. "Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it."
—Thomas Jefferson, 1808  First Thursday Call to Prayer, March 2nd, 2017Posted by Anne Graham Lotz 0sc on February 27, 2017
Hear us…Forgive us…Heal us For the Glory of Your Great Name JEHOVAH ROHI: THE LORD MY SHEPHERD The Lord is my shepherd…[1] How we love and trust You, Gentle Shepherd. You are a “right-now” God. For such a time as this we need You, and therefore we have You. You are not only the Light that guides us through the darkening and threatening storms of life, You are our spiritual GPS system.[2] You lead us on the right path and get us to the place we need to be. One day You will take us safely Home. We trust You completely. You are Jehovah Rohi, who takes full responsibility for the welfare of Your people. For our safety. For our necessities. You guard the young. You seek the stray. You find the lost. You guide the faithful. You right the wronged. You avenge the abused. You defend the weak. You comfort the oppressed. You welcome the prodigal. You heal the sick. You cleanse the dirty. You beautify the barren. You restore the failure. You mend the broken. You bless the poor. You fill the empty. You clothe the naked. You satisfy the hungry. You elevate the humble. You forgive the sinner. And You raise the dead! [3] One day, in our flesh, we will see You face to face. Until then, we fix our eyes of faith on You, our Good Shepherd: Jesus. [4] As we draw nearer to the National Observance of the National Day of Prayer on May 4th, we are asking that You direct every step, give wisdom for every decision, equip and empower every one involved in the planning, so that this year’s observance will truly move Heaven and change our nation. Stir the hearts of those You have chosen to attend nationally and locally so that tens of thousands of Your people will gather with one heart and mind as we cry out for You to hear us…forgive us…heal us. For the glory of Your great name Amen [1] Psalm 23:1 [2] I lifted the analogy of our Shepherd being our spiritual GPS system from Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. [3] Adapted from Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz, Word Publishing, Nashville, TN, 2009, p.145 [4] John 10:11 |
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