Bigups and shoutout to Wendy Clark for sharing a word or “the word” rather…The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the US nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Because of the faith of many of our founding fathers, public prayer and national days of prayer have a long-standing and significant history in American tradition.

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of American heritage. Another important segment of National Day of Prayer includes the National Day of Prayer Task Force. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church, and Family.

The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on an understanding that the United States was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the GOD of the Bible.

Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through that history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

In accordance with Biblical truth, the National Day of Prayer Task Force seeks to: Foster unity within the Christian Church, Protect America’s Constitutional Freedoms to gather, worship, pray and speak freely, Publicize and preserve America’s Christian heritage, Encourage and emphasize prayer, regardless of current issues and positions, Respect all people, regardless of denomination or creed, Be wise stewards of GOD’s resources and provision, and Glorify the Lord in word and deed.

The National Day of Prayer has great significance for the US as a nation. It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of GOD when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to Americans to humbly come before GOD, seeking His guidance for American leaders and His grace upon the nation as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event that signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Like Thanksgiving or Christmas, this day has become a national observance placed on all Hallmark calendars and observed annually across the nation and in Washington, D.C. Last year, local, state and federal observances were held from sunrise in Maine to sunset in Hawaii, uniting Americans from all socio-economic, political and ethnic backgrounds in prayer. It is estimated that more than two million people attended more than 40,000 observances organized by approximately 40,000 volunteers. At state capitols, county court houses, on the steps of city halls, and in schools, businesses, churches and homes, people stopped their activities and gathered for prayer.

This year prayer was read by Dr. Ravi Zacharias, the 2008 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and it read the following:

Holy Father, in a world where so many are hungry,
You have given us food in abundance;

In GOD’s holy name.

For more information on the National Day of Prayer, the National Day of Prayer Task Force and upcoming events, please visit www.ndptf.org or via Phone: (719) 531-3379, Fax: (719) 548-4520, and Order Line: (800) 444-8828.

Portions of this article were provided by http://www.ndptf.org/home/home.html