The National Day of Prayer
Today is The National Day of Prayer...and I’ve yet to hear from anyone that cares.
This used to be a BIG deal…what happened?
I always looked at it as the Republican Day of Prayer…or the day when we all took 2 Chronicles 7:14 out of context and made believe we were ancient Israel.
Are you participating in any event today?
Should we have a National Day of Prayer?
What happened to the buzz around this “event”?
Hard to figure exactly what this is. Symbol fatigue.
i think it’s a reflection of how divided evangelicalism has become in the last five years.
I could not, would not, no way in hell, attend one of these gatherings because I’m biblically conservative and socially “liberal” in the eyes of the organizers.
Half the people there would be praying for my demise…
LOL ” the day when we all took 2 Chronicles 7:14 out of context and made believe we were ancient Israel.” Ohmygosh, I wonder how many other “Bible promises” I have misused in this manner.
Hasn’t the National Day of Prayer always been the second week of May? Or always 1st Thursday? I’ve not attended an event for a long time…and have no plans to today.
I’m pretty much over any orchestrated ‘spiritual’ events… it’s either a 24/7 lifestyle or not.
Amen, Paigemom.
I didn’t even know it was happening until I saw something on Facebook…
For us who call our selves believers this should be a daily event.The National Day of Prayer is nothing short of a joke.No unity will be forthcoming because most Americans follow after different gods.The god of convenience doesn’t need to be prayed to anyway..
My gardener called me last night to say he would not be out today as it is May 1 and he is going to the May Day rally in LA (he does this every year.)
Michael, are you going to a May Day rally near you today? See, something for everyone. š
Yeah, I agree with Dude.
I always thought this was a ploy by Republican Christians and FOTF to get hook the conservative Christians into their camp. It should be every day and I can’t speak to the verse in particular, the whole idea of the US as a “Christian Nation” has always given me a chuckle.
I never attended anything related to this or that flagpole thing, but they all seem a bit showoff-ish and, well, the notoriety is their reward. IMHO
At the risk of being in the extreme minority on this subject, yes – we ought to care. Yes, I participated in an event. It was the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for our city, and as always, it was well attended by people from all kinds of church traditions (along with Jewish synagogue representation).
No, it wasn’t a Republican rally. I only heard 2 Chr 7:14 once (and yes, it was out of context). No, it wasn’t a meaningless event. It was a time our community cherishes, and a reminder that we have much to pray for in our country. We prayed for those who need healing, for those who need courage, for those who need compassion, for our national & local leaders, for our military, for our churches, and much more.
For all the stuff that can be criticized, for the life of me, I don’t know why a “National Day of Prayer” is something to be torn into. After all, shouldn’t we be *grateful* for a day for repentance and prayer?
I guess it depends on how this National Day of Prayer is done.
At my church, the elders have divided up the day into shifts and if you want to come to the church to pray, someone will be there to pray with you.
Is it done differently elsewhere?
Tim,
What are we nationally repenting of?
“What are we nationally repenting of?”
That one is easy – thinking that we can fix things politically.
Our own callousness. Our individual sins. At least, that’s how it was led at the Mayor’s breakfast. There wasn’t any finger-pointing at anyone else.
Not that we don’t have grievous national sins from which to repent. Abortion ought to top the list, among others. Our reliance upon politics (both right and left) ought to be another.
I think I agree with Tim. I know the Greek Archbishop Demetrios used to (maybe still does) attend this event. I think a local prayer breakfast (Why breakfast? Who knows) would be more significant than the national program. I have never been involved in anything like this. Is Jesus Christ mentioned by name at these things? Public prayers to “the Creator” or “God” leave me cold, but then, I’m not the one they are being directed towards. Is this the thing the arch heretic Gene Robinson has been given a prominent position? If so, phooey on the Nat’l event. Local events, like Tim’s, sound good to me.
And I do think God punishes wicked nations.
I’m extremely jaded.
It’s a Republican Party Prayer Fest here in the valley and they pray for a different America than I do.
I’m glad people are praying. I’m not really dialed into any events either at our church or community. I was involved some years ago with a community event, but the political/republican/judgmental bent drove me away.
Iām glad people are praying<<<
That's pretty much how I feel about it.
Does it matter if we are all praying to the same God (god)? I’m sure someone, somewhere is praying to a tree or a rock.
Our town is gathering ’round the flag pole at City Hall. Since my town is 75% “people of color,” I doubt there will be many Republicans present and I suspect the prayers will reflect this. We’ll see. I might amble down the street and take a look.
Gene gave his “prayer” at Obama’s Easter breakfast, not this one.
“Itās a Republican Party Prayer Fest here in the valley and they pray for a different America than I do.’
Perhaps Democrats don’t pray. š
I’m feeling quite free of having to pray publicly, to be seen of my fellow citizens.
My Father In Heaven sees secretly, hears at all times, and needs none of the pomp & circumstance and flag waving.
When will these event organizers take to heart the words of Jesus?
…not holding my breath š
covered – if they are not praying to the Triune God, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit – they might as well be praying to a tree or a rock.
I’ll go to the prayer gathering that is praying for the poor, the homeless, the immigrant, and the long term unemployed.
Then we’ll repent of becoming an oligarchy owned by corporations that care for none of the above.
We’ll repent of drones, supporting drug cartels, corruption here and abroad, and having more of our population in prison than any other 1st world country.
I don’t think we’ll need much space to gather in…
Amen ( lo )====::: #21
Iāll go to the prayer gathering that is praying for the poor, the homeless, the immigrant, and the long term unemployed.<<<
Well, I think you might feel at home at the gathering in my town because I suspect that will be the content of their prayers.
But, (don't faint, folks) I think I agree w/ G that it's the secret prayers in our prayer closets that are the most meaningful. There's a time and place for public prayer, though.
I’ll repent by proxy for any idiot that thinks David Barton is a historian…
G has spoken wisely…but there is a place for corporate prayer.
Thx Michael, I believe that corporate prayer is best practiced when politicians and media are banned š
that’s funny “we need to vote for Godly people … but you can’t come pray with us.”
( |o )====::: you are LOL funny š
I had forgotten that is was the NDP until this post popped up in my FB newsfeed. So that tells you how much it has moved out of my consciousness Yet our church has put more attention and emphasis on prayer in the last 5 months than ever before. A tool that has really been kickstarting a lot of our efforts is a book by Daniel Henderson called Transforming Prayer. Some great concepts we are employing.
Paigemom #3…. “itās either a 24/7 lifestyle or not.”
Amen. Lord please help us to live like this.
thatās funny āwe need to vote for Godly people ā¦ but you canāt come pray with us.ā
( |o )====::: you are LOL funny
———–
Sorry, I never said the above MLD.
I vote for the best candidate, and if that candidate is widely known for their “godliness” I usually try to find a better candidate.
As to whom I invite and join in corporate prayer, I avoid those who make sacred time into media circus events
National Prayer days are really a non issue for LCMS – we find it difficult to pray with others especially non Christians.
http://www.wnd.com/2014/05/dobson-obama-is-abortion-president/
Not much for the NDP, but I will agree with Tim on the nation needing to repent on abortion.
The national thing is usually highly politicized, but I think local ones are good stuff.
Michael: I just returned from helping lead a multi-church prayer service. we had prayer in three areas: Prayer for leaders, Prayer for justice, and Prayers for Evangelism. It was a very good, balanced, gospel/mercy-centered, and low attended service. But God only needs a remnant….
I have seen nothing but good things on here about the local NDP events. That is a good thing!
Jeff,
I’m surprised that it was poorly attended.
It used to pack out First Naz…
More or less related to the day’s topic:
http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=27-03-003-e
The Lord does not require that we win. He requires that we be steadfast.
we don’t need a National day of prayer – we have daily prayer here at PP. š
Still praying for your sister Derek
((((hugs)))) jlo, still praying for you in your situation.
Scott, still praying for the family who’s baby died in a fall yesterday.
Michael, still praying for your employment and health.
Sarah, still praying for your health.
Thank you, Dusty.
Really glad you’re back and serving this strange community. š
y’ll are my family Michael, I am really glad to be back
Thank you, Dusty!
Thank you Dusty.
thank you dusty
Here’s something I read on the Internet today that fits this theme:
When you screw up while leaving a recorded phone message, you usually canāt erase it, I know a guy who ended a message with āā¦in Jesusā Name, Amen.ā. He was so used to saying that at the end of a prayer that he just did it without thinking.
On a more serious note, the blog went on to say:
Sometimes our prayers get said without thinking, too. You can probably recite the Lordās Prayer without thinking about it. For many, saying the āOur Fatherā is a ritual, like the Pledge of Allegiance, done by rote so we can all sit down and get on to the next thing. The irony of that is that Jesus taught that prayer as a way to help us avoid meaningless, empty prayer. He warned us, āDonāt think you get brownie points from God by special words and a religious tone of voice.ā
But, that raises the question: When you dare to speak with the Creator of the universe, what should you say? How should you pray?
Jesus answered those questions with a profound but simple outline for prayer. He said, not, pray this, but āpray like this:ā
āOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
( Matthew 6:9-13 ā ESV)
Begin your prayer, He said, by acknowledging the majesty and awesome holiness of the One you are addressing. At the same time, remember His love for us, His children. āOur Father, Who exists in Heaven, may Who You are, fill me and everyone else with a sense of reverence, wonder and humility.ā Use words that have that effect on your heart.
Secondly, as you pray, intentionally align your heart with Godās purpose and plan. Pray for the eventual establishment of His Kingdom on earth, the day in which everyone naturally and gracefully lives in harmony with the will of God, their King. Tell God how you yearn for Heavenās conditions to be lived out here on earth.
After these important attitude adjustments in prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for our needs. We donāt say, āGod, gimme thisā¦ā but rather, we are to pray with gratitude, knowing God already knows our needs. We pray for our daily needs ā bread for the day. There is a childlike trust and surrender reflected in such a prayer.
Our prayers for forgiveness from God are soaked in the awareness that such forgiveness can only be received by those with forgiving hearts. Read that again and ponder the truth of it.
Jesus taught us to pray for protection from Satan and from the many ways we are tempted by him. Because our battle with sin is spiritual in nature, we need more than willpower; we need spiritual armament.
And thatās it. Thatās the outline for prayer. All that other business about āFor Thine is theā¦ ā is the kind of religious ritualistic verbiage Jesus was teaching us to avoid.
Next time you pause to talk with God, try Jesusā outline, putting each idea into the words that flow from your own heart.
In Jesusā Name, Amen. š
Some good thoughts for the day.
(((Dusty)))