Join thousands of Christians across the United States this Thursday, May 3rd to pray for our nation.

The roots of the National Day of Prayer go back to the founding of our nation. George Washington started an important tradition of Presidents proclaiming national days of prayer. In 1798 President Washington said, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” One of President Lincoln’s national day of prayer proclamations in 1863 said this, “Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation… and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”

Since 1952, America has held a federally-observed “National Day of Prayer,” a time where people are encouraged to pray for our nation. This is a perfect time for Christians to step up and lead by example in prayer. Mrs. Shirley Dobson, NDP chairman, reminds us: “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”

The National Day of Prayer Task Force, whose goal is to mobilize Christians to come together in love and unity to pray for America, has more information on the history of this observed day: “The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5, 1988, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.”

We at Prepare The Way will be taking part in the National Day of Prayer. We encourage you to take time out of your own day to pray for America this Thursday. This is a time for the Body of Christ to come together in unity to ask God to bring revival to our country. Click here to find events near you. The United States of America is at a crossroads… we desperately need the Lord’s healing and touch on our nation. Pray with us for a 4th Great Awakening. We don’t deserve it… but how glorious it would be to see it happen one more time.