The National Day of Prayer for 2013 is on May 2nd. We have a little time. "Time for what?"...you might ask. We have time to get our hearts in the right place...a place where His love for others makes His Presence...and causes our own hearts see a purpose in the world we live in. A time where we say to ourselves...."Hey, I simply care! I care about you...I care about America!"
Too often in my own life...prayers are offered to the Lord....after-the-fact. I call them my "Reactorary Prayers"...instead of "Pro-Active Prayers".
What if for once...I prayed about someone or a situation...before it happened! Whoa!...that is big! That puts a whole different look on the meaning of prayer itself.
The annual day of National Prayer Observance is held on the first Thursday in the month of May. It is designated by the U.S. Congress and its purpose is this: that all Americans are asked to turn to God in prayer and meditation.
Prayer itself is defined as: an act that seeks to activate a rapport with a Deity that is of a deliberate communication (even to the point of pre-meditated). Prayer is commonly found in various religious practices and various forms such as: a hymn, incantation, a formal creed, or a spontaneous utterance from the person initializing the prayer itself.
Prayers can be of various agenda as well. There are prayers of petition, prayers of supplication, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of worship and praise.
Prayers are directed to a Deity for numerous reasons: the love of family/others, for a specific purpose or idea, for worship, for guidance, asking for assistance, confessing sins, or expressing thoughts and/or emotions.
Although the "National Day of Prayer was signed a bill on April 17th, 1952, some regard the National Day of Prayer to have actually began at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Here then is the proclamation issued by the Continental Congress on July 20th, 1775:
" The Honorable the Congress having recommended it the United States, to set apart the 6th of May next to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to acknowledge the gracious interposition of Providence, to deprecate (to pray or interact that a present evil may be removed), deserved punishment for our Sins and ingratitude, to unitedly implore the Protection of Heaven: Success to our Arms and the Arms of our Ally: The Commander-n-Chief enjoins a religious observance of the said day and directs the Chaplains to prepare discourses proper for the occasion; strictly forbidding all recreations and unnecessary labor." George Washington, First President of the United States."
On May 2nd of 2013...America is still praying...we can't succeed without the "Protection of Heaven". Here then is a National Prayer for 2013...a prayer we need "unitedly implore".
"Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.
How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, : "America, America, God shed His grace on thee." Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.
Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from...our courtrooms, classrooms, and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have "forgotten God." But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.
Scripture tells us that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." {Proverbs 14:34}. Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said: "Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?" {Psalm 85:6}.
That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to You. You have told us if we humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. {2 Chronicles 7:14}
Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this trouble land that we love so much.
We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ."
(The National Day of Prayer committee is under the direction of Honorary Chairman Pastor Greg Laurie...for 2013.)
Note: This is a wonderful prayer, and words like "refreshing", "revivals", "spiritual awakenings", "heal our land"...these are deep and heart felt words.
Yet, as a "lowly amateur history and scriptural buff"...I can tell you from what I have studied thus far in both history and Scriptures...when you decide to pray these types of prayers...He will answer!..That's what He does...and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention.
Changing heart, moral landscapes, having humble hearts, turning from our wicked ways, forgiving our sins, and healing our land....we as a people need to respond to His Calling as well ...and we need the influence of the "Paraclete", or through the Power of the Holy Spirit to see the wonderment of people turning to Him. I've read where the Holy Spirit will create those special moments when one gives their lives to Christ, yet the circumstances or the surroundings may not always be pleasant. To God be the Glory!!
Too often in my own life...prayers are offered to the Lord....after-the-fact. I call them my "Reactorary Prayers"...instead of "Pro-Active Prayers".
What if for once...I prayed about someone or a situation...before it happened! Whoa!...that is big! That puts a whole different look on the meaning of prayer itself.
The annual day of National Prayer Observance is held on the first Thursday in the month of May. It is designated by the U.S. Congress and its purpose is this: that all Americans are asked to turn to God in prayer and meditation.
Prayer itself is defined as: an act that seeks to activate a rapport with a Deity that is of a deliberate communication (even to the point of pre-meditated). Prayer is commonly found in various religious practices and various forms such as: a hymn, incantation, a formal creed, or a spontaneous utterance from the person initializing the prayer itself.
Prayers can be of various agenda as well. There are prayers of petition, prayers of supplication, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of worship and praise.
Prayers are directed to a Deity for numerous reasons: the love of family/others, for a specific purpose or idea, for worship, for guidance, asking for assistance, confessing sins, or expressing thoughts and/or emotions.
Although the "National Day of Prayer was signed a bill on April 17th, 1952, some regard the National Day of Prayer to have actually began at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Here then is the proclamation issued by the Continental Congress on July 20th, 1775:
" The Honorable the Congress having recommended it the United States, to set apart the 6th of May next to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to acknowledge the gracious interposition of Providence, to deprecate (to pray or interact that a present evil may be removed), deserved punishment for our Sins and ingratitude, to unitedly implore the Protection of Heaven: Success to our Arms and the Arms of our Ally: The Commander-n-Chief enjoins a religious observance of the said day and directs the Chaplains to prepare discourses proper for the occasion; strictly forbidding all recreations and unnecessary labor." George Washington, First President of the United States."
On May 2nd of 2013...America is still praying...we can't succeed without the "Protection of Heaven". Here then is a National Prayer for 2013...a prayer we need "unitedly implore".
"Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.
How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, : "America, America, God shed His grace on thee." Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.
Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from...our courtrooms, classrooms, and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have "forgotten God." But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.
Scripture tells us that "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." {Proverbs 14:34}. Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said: "Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?" {Psalm 85:6}.
That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to You. You have told us if we humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. {2 Chronicles 7:14}
Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this trouble land that we love so much.
We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ."
(The National Day of Prayer committee is under the direction of Honorary Chairman Pastor Greg Laurie...for 2013.)
Note: This is a wonderful prayer, and words like "refreshing", "revivals", "spiritual awakenings", "heal our land"...these are deep and heart felt words.
Yet, as a "lowly amateur history and scriptural buff"...I can tell you from what I have studied thus far in both history and Scriptures...when you decide to pray these types of prayers...He will answer!..That's what He does...and He will do whatever it takes to get our attention.
Changing heart, moral landscapes, having humble hearts, turning from our wicked ways, forgiving our sins, and healing our land....we as a people need to respond to His Calling as well ...and we need the influence of the "Paraclete", or through the Power of the Holy Spirit to see the wonderment of people turning to Him. I've read where the Holy Spirit will create those special moments when one gives their lives to Christ, yet the circumstances or the surroundings may not always be pleasant. To God be the Glory!!
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