What could be more ironic than this Headline on The Christian Post: “National Day of Prayer Coincides With 50th Anniversary of Ban on School Prayer”? Today – Thursday, May 3rd – manyAmericans will be observing the 61st annual National Day of Prayer. This year is one of special significance because the May 3rd  observance also marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision that invalidated official prayer in public schools. The article suggests that "…Some religious believers will likely use the day of prayer to call attention to what they view as a regrettable and consequential decision…referencing the Supreme Court's landmark 1962 decision in Engel v. Vitale.” It is further suggested that “…this year's National Day of Prayer will reopen the debate on the Establishment Clause, which says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

According to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, led by Shirley Dobson, "The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation. It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning." 

In a very telling statement, the Freedom From Religion Foundation argues: “The U.S. President has neither the moral nor the constitutional authority to dictate to Americans to pray, much less to tell citizens what to pray about or set aside an entire day for prayer…Whether to pray, or believe in a god who answers prayer, is an intensely precious, personal decision protected under our First Amendment as a paramount matter of conscience. Don't let Christian evangelicals hijack our secular Constitution."

In a somewhat neutral and secular tone, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation on the National Day of Prayer on Tuesday. In it, he writes: "Prayer has always been a part of the American story, and today countless Americans rely on prayer for comfort, direction, and strength, praying not only for themselves, but for their communities, their country, and the world. On this National Day of Prayer, we give thanks for our democracy that respects the beliefs and protects the religious freedom of all people to pray, worship, or abstain according to the dictates of their conscience…I invite all citizens of our Nation, as their own faith directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I call upon individuals of all faiths to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great Nation as we address the challenges of our time."

Removing God out of our schools and national consciousness has not worked very well for our nation, nor has it resulted in any significant and positive result for the citizenry. This year’s theme for The National Day of Prayer is: “One Nation Under God, is based on Psalm 33:12 - “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” For those who wish to continue to remove God and Prayer from the nation’s public awareness, there are two passages to ponder – (1) Psalm 9:16-17, “The Lord is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.” – and (2) Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works…” Our drift away from God has been persistent: 1960s – Prayer and Bible Reading removed from the schools; 1970s – the Legalization of Abortion on demand; 1980s – several revisions and “translations” where the name Jesus was omitted (and continuing to this day where gender-neutral names are assigned for God); 1990s – The Gay Agenda began to gain attention and tractions; 2000s – same-sex marriages are being legitimatized and legalized in many States of this nation.
  • Are we forgetting God and His Standards? Yes! 
  • Have we surrendered a national consciousness about God and His preeminence in all things? Yes!
The time is long past and the need is urgent for this nation to return to the Lord and to acknowledge Him in all things. Commit yourself to make every day a Day of Prayer. May the Lord bless and enrich you as you do! Consider these things with me!