Published by It occurs every year on the first Thursday of the month of May. Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, many will be holding the victims close at heart. Many also will be keeping in prayer loved ones in the military deployed overseas.
There have been several National Days of Prayer before being made official in 1952. In 1775, the Continental Congress issued a day of prayer. This was opposed by Thomas Jefferson who argued that individual religious organizations could designate a day of prayer, but the U.S Government should not have this right.
President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer on April 17,1952. A National Prayer Committee was found in 1972, which went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force. It was in 1988 that President Ronald Regan signed a bill establishing the National Day of Prayer to be the first Thursday of May.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force created by The National Prayer Committee was established to help coordinate events on National Prayer Day. The Task Force is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is based at Focus on the Family where Shirley Dobson who is the wife of Dr. James Dobson founder of Focus on the Family.
In the National Day of Prayer School Events Guide which is available on the National Day of Prayer Task Force’s website, the constitutionality is argued. The claim is “Founding Fathers did not mean for our government to be separated from our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The theme this year for the 56th Annual National Day of Prayer is “America, Unite in Prayer.” It is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn away from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Swindoll, an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio personality will assist in leading the nation in prayer. He is the 2007 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer.
I welcome any time that we can have prayers, to make a better world. We all need to pray for America as well as for Africa and the rest of the planet as we seen starvation,AIDS, and other serious problems that face our society.