NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - MAY 2
The need for a spiritual awakening in America is becoming more and more apparent. Church attendance has not recovered since COVID, and currently only 36% of adults attended church, synagogue, mosque, or temple in the past seven days. The number of adults regularly attending a Christian worship service is obviously less than that 36%.
The absence of adherence to Christian values is seen in government, education, media and culture in general. May 2 is this year’s National Day of Prayer, when Christians across the country will unite in prayer for the country.
The 2024 theme for the National Day of Prayer is Lift up the Word - Light up the World, based on 2 Samuel 22:29-31: “For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF WE UNITED OUR HEARTS AND CRIED OUT TO GOD ON BEHALF OF…
GOVERNMENT — that we might have godly men and women serving at all levels of government. “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness” (Exodus 18:21a).
MILITARY — that our men and women in uniform will be strong because they are trusting in the Lord who will fight for them. “Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, ‘Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (2 Chronicles 32:6-8).
MEDIA/ARTS — that media will report what is true and the arts will celebrate truth. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
BUSINESS — that businesses will operate with integrity and be led by godly leaders. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).
EDUCATION — that our education system will recognize and teach the truth of God’s Word. “And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do” (Exodus 18:20).
CHURCH — that the Lord will protect His Church from following the traditions of the culture and seek to fully follow the Word. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8).
FAMILY — that God will preserve the family and that He will teach us to love without reservation. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:9-13).
“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace to His people and to His saints” (Psalm 85:6-8a).
More information is available at nationaldayofprayer.org.