National Day of Prayer

This week marks an observance on Thursday of a National Day of Prayer. The date has been changed from that first on set on February 19 in 1795 by President George Washington, but in general, the intention of such a day should be understood to be a day of thanks to God for his blessings and a call for clear recognition that such gifts of prosperity as we know are not to be taken for granted nor expected apart from an attention to God’s leading and an earnest desire to share such benefits with “the whole family of mankind.” Washington penned a thanks and call to prayer for “Liberty with order;” aims to seek the “preservation of our peace, foreign and domestic;” and the recognition that our nation should be “more and more a safe and propitious asylum for the unfortunate of other countries;” to encourage habits of “sobriety, order, and morality and piety;” along with avoiding any thought for supposing ourselves worthy of such blessings if we abused them or were ungrateful for them.

Strangely, the National Day of Prayer has been somehow endowed with political overtones in our own generation to suggest that some people have a better angle on praying for the “right stuff” over others. Even some religious leaders are suggesting that only certain political policies are receiving airtime on National Day of Prayer event promotions. Others are utilizing the day as a day to call for Christians to “fight” for their right to pray, because evil forces aim to take away that right. Still others suggest that by participating in certain Day of Prayer events, we will win the day in the eyes of our political leaders to let them know what we think and what we believe.

Curiously, I question whether or not any of the above qualifies as a prayer. Even old President Washington, for whatever political mileage he might have gained to declare such a day for our nation, remains far removed in his remarks from such a perilous suggestion that by praying we will “show our power” or “get our way.” In fact, Washington stated clearly that such treasures as were established and known in the context of our Nation were gifts of God and were gifts that required a stewardship of purpose and an aim to acknowledge and give thanks to God for allowing them to be a part of our experience. Today, we seem to think we can improve our status by image consciousness without any concern at all for honoring God.

The truth is a National Day of Prayer only scratches the surface of what I know most people are praying about. When you are facing a major heart surgery, or a cancer diagnosis, or enduring the death of your spouse…politics are not the order of the day. When you are homeless or jobless or an unregistered “alien” your concerns are not for lofty words that call for battles against anyone. Your heart cry is to God who sees and knows and understands every circumstance of your life. Your appeal is to the One who alone can supply the needs of the hour. Whether you are one with a sick child or a broken family relationship, or one bowed down with the troubles and trials of every day, or one suffering with the fears and pains that disturb our souls, let us bow before our Maker in humble plea and pray.

Make this day…a day of prayer. Make every day…a day of seeking God’s will above all others. Make your prayer…the truth of your heart…freely shared with the Lord who loves you and calls you to be his own.