Today is the National Day of Prayer, now designated as the first Thursday in May each year. Long before, came the presidential proclamation, which we reaffirm here:
Proclamation 97—Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer 1
By the President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln
A Proclamation.
Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.
And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.
And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!
It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty seventh.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Praying for our Nations Government
The Apostle Paul instructed that we pray for our governmental leaders, why? So that we may have peace, godliness and dignity. As believers we ought to pray regularly for the government, for even a casual glance across the land shows that we do not have this peace, godliness, nor dignity.
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. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-4
Here are 7 prayers for our earthly government; and asking for the Lord's kingdom here.
Prayers of the Founding Fathers
From our nations founding, we the people have offered prayers for her and for those in government. It is also true that our founding fathers offered prayers. Today we recite two from George Washington and one from Thomas Jefferson in the PrayerPodcast
Pray For The People Of God From The Word Of God
These are prayers for revival in the church:
Thursday - Acts 6:7- Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Friday - Acts 12:24- But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Saturday - Acts 14:27 - they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Sunday - Acts 19:20- So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
https://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/fast.htm
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
A Day of Praying