The National Day of Prayer in the United States is this Thursday, May 2, 2013. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, with many observances on city hall steps, in front of state capitols, at schools, as well as in thousands of churches. By going to the National Day of prayer website, www.nationaldayofprayer.org, a search of events in your local area can be made.
This year’s Honorary Chairman is Pastor Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California.
With many critical issues before the courts and in legislation, and our nation’s security in jeopardy, it is imperative that all Christians participate in any way they can. According to the National Day of Prayer website, the theme for 2013 is: “’Pray for America’, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men. To further highlight our theme, we’ve chosen Matthew 12:21 as our Scripture for this year: ‘In His name the nations will put their hope’.”
The following is the prayer that Honorary Chairman Pastor Greg Laurie would like all of America to agree together in prayer for our nation:
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 will 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 Chronicles7:14). Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.
