This week, Thursday, May 2nd, is the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer is a critical part of America’s legacy and is as pertinent and vital today as it was at the first call by our Continental Congress in 1775. Established into public law by a joint resolution of Congress, signed by President Truman in 1952, then amended to designate the day under the 100th Congress and President Reagan in 1988, it states that:
“The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups and as individuals.”
Only a blinded fool could not see that America desperately needs much prayer. We must have God’s rescue, or there is no rescue! Of course, we pray for our homeland more than just the one day designated, but something happens when the masses fall on their knees in repentant humility before our Holy God.
“If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Every word of this instruction for healing revival is important for the result we must experience before we have gone too far in our evil rebellion against a Holy God. Link this verse together with the words from James chapter 5 and revival is a certainty:
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
There it is! The “effectual” (acquiring what is most needful), “fervent” (hot, powerful and on-going), “prayer” (pleading in courageous humility before God), “of a righteous man” (one made clean in God’s sight, through repenting confession of sin).
I trust you will either spend the day in solitude fasting and praying, or unite with a formed group for the same, or you may do the both. I like both, myself. I enjoy my time alone with God, and then, I desire praying with like-minded believers in some form of corporate experience. I love conducting Concerts of Prayer with churches, large or small.
However you spend the National Day of Prayer this year, let’s make it one that history will record as most remarkable because of the activities of God as a result of our humble pleas. God bless you! Jerry for Revival! Pray On!
