Dear Precious Friends,
May we all be in prayer today for our country. Today is the National Day of Prayer.
Created by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Truman in 1952, the day invites people of all faiths to pray for our country. 
Here is a reminder from Franklin Graham:
Taking a stand for our country begins by going to our knees in prayer before Almighty God. Today is the #NationalDayofPrayer, and for the past 71 years, Christians across our country have gathered on this day to ask God for His help. Our country is in trouble—we’re in a free fall, morally and spiritually. We need to pray for our families, schools, churches, law enforcement, military, judges, and our political leadership in Washington. I hope you’ll join me in asking God to intervene and turn the heart of this nation back to Him. We also need to pray for world leaders, and for an end to the deadly conflict in Ukraine. The Word of God promises “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12).
My father Billy Graham once said, “A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.” He also called prayer “the Christian’s greatest weapon.” I couldn’t agree more. The most important thing we can do is come to God and ask Him for help and direction. He’s the only hope for this world, and that’s why I pray in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ on this National Day of Prayer. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)
Here are some things to pray for:
Our circumstances here on this Earth can seem bleak at times. Naturally, we turn to God to pray for change. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this, it’s important to remember that God also deserves our praise.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So, as you go throughout National Day of Prayer today, be sure to give thanks for the Lord’s blessings, whether those are small joys (like the sun shining or birds chirping in the morning) or a larger miracle (the Lord healing a loved one of an illness).
With that said, here are several ideas of what your family can pray for on this year’s National Day of Prayer:
1) Pray for our nation
Praying for our nation will always stand at the forefront of this list. The very purpose of this day is to gather to pray for our nation. There are many regrettable things about our nation that it’s okay for us to mourn. But maybe that’s where we start our prayer, from a place of mourning.
A common phrase in prayer is Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. As we pray for our nation, let us not start from a position of blame, but from a position of responsibility for our own issues. Pray for the forgiveness of our nation for not seeking God first and conclude by asking God to unite the hearts of many to His will and purpose.
2) Pray with thanksgiving
The theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer is “Exalt the Lord, who has established us.” based on Colossians 2:6-7:
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Allow your prayer to overflow with praise and thanksgiving for the work that God has done in us through Christ. Prayer is a time to thank God for all that He is doing in your life.
3) Pray for our churches
In all of Apostle Paul’s letters to the churches in the New Testament, you find him praying for those local bodies. We need to seek the Lord and ask Him to empower the churches in our cities. The church is not perfect and is filled with people who need God’s power to help them be the hands and feet of Jesus in our nation.
“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” | 2 Thessalonians 1:11
4) Pray for our homes
Praying for our nation can sometimes feel like we’re fighting a losing battle. Remember that the greatest way to effect change starts in our homes. Pray that your home would be a place of rest for your family and friends, especially those who don’t know Jesus. A prayer that has been hot on my lips has been for the Lord to protect my kids from evil and from false truth.
Don’t forget that God chooses to use US to help accomplish his purposes.
5) Pray for our world
When you turn on the news or scroll through social media you are flooded with conversations of conflict and images of war. This is the time to pray. Just this week, I prayed with a Ukrainian woman in Louisville, KY. She reminded me that although the war is across the globe, its impact is right here in our neighborhoods and churches.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” | John 14:27
Let us close with this prayer from Pastor Tony Evans:
“God, You are the blessed and only Sovereign. You are the King of kings. You are the Lord of Lords. Nations rise up against You, but You rout them as the Lord of hosts over the heavenly army.”“While we may attribute glory, honor, or power to people, only You rule. Heaven rules the affairs of men. I give You praise, honor, and glory as I recognize that Your hand is the hand that shapes the destinies of all of us, even though we may not realize it in the process. Mankind can make our plans, but the Sovereign determines the path. Amen.”
