Today is the 58th annual observance of the National Day of
Prayer. As a church, we are called
to pray for our church, community and world. As a citizens of our country, we are called to pray for our
nation. As we all know, prayer is incredibly important . . . so much so that is
utterly essential. Let’s allow this National Day of Prayer to remind us of the
importance of prayer in our own lives and in our church. Here are some thoughts
about prayer.
Pray!
“1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for
kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who
wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 2:3-4 niv
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
niv
“Pray continually” – 1
Thessalonians 5:17 niv
How to Pray
The Lord’s Prayer | Matthew 6:9-15
9 "This, then, is how you should
pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our
daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but
deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not
forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Prayer for Our Nation
| Beth
Moore, Honorary Chairman for the National Day of Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We lift our eyes toward
Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when
Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear
to us. We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor. Look over this
fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to
the sky, for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in
devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins.
Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. “May Your
unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the
Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer for Our Nation
| Catholic
Doors
Almighty God, bless
our nation and make it true to the ideas of freedom and justice and brotherhood
for all who make it great. Guard us from
war . . . from compromise, fear, confusion. Be close to our
president and our statesmen; give them vision and courage, as they ponder
decisions affecting peace and the future of the world. Make me more
deeply aware of my heritage; realizing not only my rights but also my duties
and responsibilities as a citizen. Make this great land and all its people know
clearly Your will, that they may fulfill the destiny ordained for us in the
salvation of the nations, and the restoring of all things in Christ, Amen.
Prayer Thoughts
Some
people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God. - Andrew Murray
There is
a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying. - John G. Lake
I have
so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it. -
John Wesley
I have
been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely
no other place to go. - Abraham Lincoln
Always
respond to every impulse to pray. I would make an absolute law of this – always
obey such an impulse. - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
One can
believe intellectually in the efficacy of prayer and never do any praying. -Catherine Marshall
Is
prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie Ten Boom
Pray
often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge
for Satan -- John Bunyan
Of all
the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential and yet more
neglected than prayer. - François Fénelon
Pray,
and let God worry. - Martin Luther
This is
our Lord's will... that our prayer and our trust be, alike, large. - Julian of
Norwich
God's
answers are wiser than our prayers. - Unknown
The
Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. The Holy Ghost
does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery,
but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men…Men of prayer.God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.... - E. M.
Bounds
Prayer does not fit us for
the greater work, prayer is the greater work. - Oswald Chambers
- E. M. Bounds
It is possible to
move men, through God, by prayer alone.
- Hudson Taylor
There has never been
a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united
prayer.
- D.A.T. Pierson
Worship and
intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other.
Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the
one for whom we pray.
- Oswald
Chambers
The great people of
the earth today are the people who pray, (not) those who talk about
prayer...but I mean those who take time and pray.
- S. D. Gordon
Work, work, from
morning until late at night. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall
have to spend the first three hours in prayer. - Martin Luther
To get nations back
on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.
- Billy Graham
Prayer is the
exercise of drawing on the grace of God.
- Oswald Chambers
