SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
(1 Timothy 2:1‑2) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings
and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in
all godliness and reverence.
Thursday, May 1st is the National Day of Prayer. It is a time of national repentance and
prayer for our great country. Here is
some history about the National Day of Prayer:
1775 - The first Continental
Congress called for a National Day of Prayer. 1863 - Abraham Lincoln called for
such a day. 1952 - Congress established the NDP as an annual event by a joint
resolution, signed into law by President Truman. 1988 - The law was amended and
signed by President Reagan, designating the NDP as the first Thursday in May.
In the Bible we see the nation of
Israel calling upon the Lord in times of great need:
- King Hezekiah when the Assyrian’s
came to conquer the land (2 Kings 18-19)
- King Jehoshaphat when the people
of Moab and Ammon came against Israel (2 Chronicles 20)
- Queen Esther calls for prayer when
Haman the Agagite tried to exterminate the Jews (Esther 4:15-17).
Each time God graciously delivered
His people. Even outside Israel, nations
were able to call upon the Lord in repentance.
Jonah preached to Nineveh and they repented at his message and the Lord
relented from the disaster He said He would bring upon the people (Jonah
3).
President George W. Bush held a
special national day of prayer just three days after the 9-11 terrorist attacks
on our country. God honors prayer. We have risen from the ashes. Our economy has recovered and America is back
in business even after the Great Recession.
That’s the mercy of God. It sure
hasn’t been because of our ongoing repentance or moral uprightness. But now we have another opportunity to seek
God on this upcoming National Day of Prayer.
Wherever you are this Thursday, say
a prayer for our nation. Let’s claim the
great promise of the Bible: (2 Chronicles 7:14) if My people who are
called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn
from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin and heal their land.
The greatest and most effective
thing we can do for your country is to pray.
God loves America. Let’s fight
for her on our knees!
(Psalm 144:15) Happy are the people
who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
Louie
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