Today is National Day of Prayer.
I encourage you to pray for the United States (or for those reading this not in this country- your own nation). For more information go to Nationaldayofprayer.org
1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:1-5)
Thoughts; I just read an article from the Huffington Post that says, "Jesus Doesn't need a national Day of Prayer and Neither Do We." Their point was that this seems to be a breaking of the separation of church and state. But they entirely miss the point. The point is not to force prayer. No one is forced to pray today. There are no swords or guns pointing to the necks of people saying, "Pray or else." Their point was also that any kind of joint prayer is watered down. But I totally disagree. It doesn't have to be watered down. Prayer, true prayer, should always be from the heart- and no one can take that away.
Truth is, we do not need to be told to shut up and not pray. It is an illusion to think that God doesn't care if we do not pray or not. Jesus has said that "where two or three are gathered together in my name- there am I in the midst of them" (Mt. 4:16).
The need of our nation, and our love for our people here should compel us to join our hearts and voices together. We are still at war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria and still have troops in Afghanistan. We are divided morally, and in moral and spiritual decline. For someone to tell us that we should be quiet in order to not offend someone else or cross an artificial imaginary line of some kind is ludicrous. We must please God rather than men. God calls us to implore Him- to ask again and again. God asks us to not let the anxieties of our world dominate us but to turn over everything to Him. Jesus desires us to talk to Him- in harmony and love. We need to talk to Jesus- crossing denominational and ecumenical lines (but not the heart).
Prayer: Lord, teach me to pray. Help me to pray. Help us to pray to you as a nation. Our leaders, our citizens, our police and firefighters need your help.
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