The National Day of Prayer (NDP) is Thursday, May 3. Did you know there will be a service at church? At 7pm, we will meet to hear speakers Pastor Ralph Sawyer, Bev Ehlen from Concerned Women of America, and Brent Campbell, Director of Missions, Twin Rivers Baptist Association, and to spend time in corporate and personal prayer for our nation and leaders.
Our country is in desperate need of repentance, awakening and revival, and we are commanded as Christians to be in prayer for these things. Just look around at the violence, hatred, prejudice and anger that abounds, and you see how urgent this is. We are in a spiritual battle, make no mistake about it. But, it's not "Us against Them." We need to CARE enough for the lost that we will take the time to pray for them. We cannot throw up our hands in despair, and leave it to someone else! Luke 18:1 says: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ALWAYS ought to pray and NOT LOSE HEART." So, no matter the way things seem, we are called to "keep the faith" and be diligent in our prayer life.
There are many references to prayer—1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 4:2 talk about continual prayer, and in Luke 6:12, our Lord "continued all night in prayer." He sets the example, as always!
In 1 Kings 8, we are given King Solomon's Prayer of Dedication of the temple as the work had been completed. Verses 44-45 read: "When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple I have built for Your name, then hear in heaven their prayer and supplication, and maintain their cause."
Remember our enemy is Satan who is behind all that's happening. Remember that our country was founded on Biblical principles. This makes me believe God did choose this country to be a beacon of Light to the world, and we have to keep carrying the torch!
This year's theme for NDP is Unity. This is a broad subject, but with focus toward praying for Unity in:
- America
- The Church
- Families, Communities, Workplaces and Cities in America
- All ethnicities and people in America
- For a GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENING in America
Ephesians 4:1-3 beseeches us to "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
I urge you to make plans to join us, I believe you'll be blessed, refreshed, and encouraged in your Christian walk! God Bless!
(All scripture from the New King James-emphasis mine)