This year’s theme is “Pray for America — UNITY,” and the National Day of Prayer Task Force has taken a small snippet of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as its motto. (See the “media graphic” below.)
Here is Paul’s entire thought (which is broader and far more profound) from which the short fragment was taken:
“Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope at your calling — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”
— EPHESIANS 4:1-6 (HCSB)
We call on all Americans today to “bow with your face toward the ground” — in humble “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” to the “one God and Father of all.” Here is the promise we have been given:
“If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
— 2 CHRONICLES 7:13-14 (HCSB)
In other words: “Be humble, seek God through prayer, and stop sinning as a Nation” is promised to bring personal forgiveness and national blessings. Looking around at the state of our country today, I think it’s about time we took the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob up on that promise.
The 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.
Our Father and Our God,
We praise You for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve.
Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face.
Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace.
We pray today for our nation’s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it.
You have said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord.
This we pray in Your holy name, Amen.
— Billy Graham
| COPYRIGHT 2018 DR. GROVER B. PROCTOR, JR. — ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
Christ Our Passover 
tod cornett
July 7, 2018 at 3:03 pm
Today, for the 4th time in my life I was told I was glowing, by my doctor of all people. As she opened the door to the well lit room that I was in she said, “WoW you are glowing”. I asked her exactly what she meant and she said,” light is emanating from around your head. I asked again exactly what she meant. She said when I opened the door the very second I saw you there was light coming from around your head as there is now. I felt Gods Love and had to tell you that instant. I asked her about her life and what it was like and she said, ” I’ve done 2 tours, one in Iraq, and the other in Afghanistan and my husband serves as well. She went on to say that she had seen a lot in her life but that she had never witnessed anything like what she was looking at right that moment. As I was looking at her right then she looked different than I had ever seen her before, kindness and peace was on her face. Then as we said goodbye, she HUGGED ME! Quite odd to say the least, but very comforting. She is my pain specialist. You just don’t get hugged by your pain specialist everyday.
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