This Sunday we will recognize the National Day of Prayer. In 1952, our Congress deemed that prayer was so essential to the peace and prosperity of our nation that an annual day of prayer should be established. The first Thursday of the month of May has been on the national calendar ever since.
We should not only pray for our country, however, but also for the Church to be like a city on a hill within it, and for the lost to enter the fold. And so we will observe three short seasons of prayer during our services this Sunday: for our nation, for the lost, and for the Church.
Below is a prayer that was written by President of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Make it your own this weekend! And come to church ready to give the Lord our best worship.
Your brother,
Ryan
2023 National Prayer for America
We come with fervent hearts to praise You Lord. You are The Word, the Way, Truth and Life. The Alpha and Omega, Lion of Judah, Almighty God who was, and is, and is to come. You clothed Yourself in flesh and dwelt among us, to remove our sin and clothe us in Your righteousness that we might dwell with You forever and ever.
With broken, humbled hearts we repent of our sins. Confessing to You our faithlessness, prayerlessness, and disobedience. Forgive us for our doubt, our prideful and quarrelsome words that reveal our unclean hearts. Cleanse us and renew a right and steadfast spirit within us we pray.
With grateful hearts we thank You fervently for the blessings in our life and throughout America; they are more than we are able to count. We will remember Your grace and testify to Your goodness in all generations. Help us to refrain from complaining, but instead be prompted to pray faithfully in every circumstance. Teach us to have a content heart knowing You are always enough for our every need.
As the Church we commit to pray and love our neighbor and nation as You loved us, that our reputation in this world would be rooted in Your love. Holy Spirit work and overflow through us in every prayer, thought, word, and deed. May our character, conversations, and conduct reflect the righteousness in which You clothed us and command us to live.
With an obedient heart we put on the full armor of God; Your breastplate of righteousness guards our heart from which flows the springs of life. We pray fervently for our communities and country; the people who are in the Church, Family, Education, Business and Workplace, Military, Government, Arts, Entertainment and Media. Every person is Your workmanship, fearfully and wonderfully created and loved. With hopeful hearts we pray that all would choose to receive Your love and follow You. We pray that America would confess, “Jesus is Lord” and reflect Your righteousness in every sphere of influence, and every aspect of our lives. We ask that heavenly hope would flood our hearts, silence hate, and that You will heal our land.
Believing You; all You are, all You said, and all You have promised, we pray fervently in righteousness and avail much. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen!
Kathy Branzell
President, National Day of Prayer Task Force