“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

Continuing what our Founders started!

The Continental Congress declared July 20, 1775, as a National Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer! In part, their proclamation stated, “… it is recommended to Christians of all denominations to assemble for public worship and to abstain from servile labor and recreation on this day.” The sincerity of their dependence on God Almighty was unquestioned. In his book, One Nation Under God, James Moore Jr. writes, “To dismiss prayer in the life of America is to embark on a fool’s errand. Prayer has been and always will be an integral part of the national character.”

At the urging of Dr. Billy Graham, Congress passed a bill calling on the President to set aside a day each year as a National Day of Prayer. Thus, President Harry Truman proclaimed July 4, 1952, as a National Day of Prayer. On September 19, 1979, President Jimmy Carter, referring to Zechariah 4:6, said the greatest truth our nation needs to recognize is, “’Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.’”

In 1988 the Law was amended to acknowledge the first Thursday of each May as a hallowed National Day of Prayer. Today, more than ever, our nation needs prayer. In agreement with Zechariah 4:6, God’s people in earnest, prevailing prayer must do just that; we must pray! From the pulpit to the pew, we affirm our nation’s spiritual roots. Therefore, we acknowledge every day is worthy of our devotion to pray for our nation, its leaders, and its purposes.