National Day of Prayer

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Thursday, May 2 is the National Day of Prayer. Instituted in 1952, the National Day of Prayer is an opportunity for Christians to come together to pray for the nation. God reminds us in the Psalm to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6) and through the Prophet Jeremiah “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

The National Day of Prayer Task Force theme for 2013 is “Pray for America”. Below is the prayer from Pastor Greg Laurie, 2013 Honorary Chairman.
"Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.

 How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.

 Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.” But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.

 Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)

 That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)

 Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.

 We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ."

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