The first Thursday of each year was declared as the National Day of Prayer in 1988. Harry Truman signed legislation in 1952 to establish an annual day of prayer but it was a different day each year until the 1988 law as passed. Of course, throughout the history of the US, from time to time, days of prayer have been declared by Congress or Presidential proclamation.
Across the nation at various times during the day, Christians will gather Thursday, May 5 to pray at churches, outdoor parks, school yards, inside and outside city hall buildings. They will stop at state houses and state capitol buildings to pray.
The largest event will be a webcast in which Joni Eareckson Tada will the be main speaker. Mrs. Tada is serving as the 2011 Honorary Chairperson for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Her position is of great significance within the disability community because she has been paralyzed from the neck down since a diving accident at the age of 19.
This is a portion of the message she has written regarding this year’s day of prayer.
Laus Deo… Praise God
When I was a child growing up in Baltimore, our school took a field trip to Washington DC. As our bus drove down Constitution Avenue, I gazed at the tall, gleaming monuments and the impressive buildings with Greek style columns. When my classmates and I climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and stood awestruck in front of Abe Lincoln, I felt as though I were in the vestibule of heaven. Sitting by the cherry trees near the Jefferson Memorial, I could barely eat my sack lunch, I was so overwhelmed with the wonder of our nation’s capital. For the rest of our tour, I’d gawk at all that white marble and think, God must live here.
I was soon to discover that Washington DC is not where God lives. For the rest of her message, click here.
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