Celebrate the National Day of Prayer May 2
May is an important month in regard to prayer because it’s the month this country observes The National Day of Prayer. When you participate in your local NDP activities, join friends to lift up the needs of the nation or take time alone to pray to God on behalf of your local leaders, you are taking part in a tradition established by the founding fathers of our country.
Since the Continental Congress first asked the colonies in 1775 to pray for wisdom in forming the nation, the call to pray has continued throughout history. From 1789 to now, the President of the United States has proclaimed a day set aside for prayer more than 140 times — or as President Lincoln described it, a day for “humiliation, fasting and prayer.” More recently, governors of every U.S. state have signed similar proclamations. Congress first established an annual event in 1952, signed into law by President Truman; the first Thursday in May became the annual observance day when President Regan amended the law.
According to the National Day of Prayer Task Force, there are no rules regarding what you should do to participate in the NDP, only that you “humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as people.” However, the extensive NDP website does give suggestions on how to pray for America and how to pray as a family. If you choose to offer an event in your community or are looking for one to join, the NDP website can help. If you would like to know more about prayer, in general, there are resources for that, too.
Regardless of how we feel about our leaders and the decisions they make, as Christ followers we have been given the ability and the Holy Spirit to petition God on their behalf. God calls each of His children to cover our leaders with prayer and intercede for them.
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Make it a point May 2 to join others in collective prayer for our nation. And any other days of the month, please join us in praying for Awana ministries around the world and watch the replay of Awana Chief Innovation and Communications Officer Mike Handler as he encourages all of us to prioritize prayer in our child discipleship efforts.
Carla’s work at Awana has been on the communications and marketing teams. It is important to her that Awana leaders and volunteers have the information they need to best disciple the kids in their care, and that these kids grow to become disciplemakers, themselves. When Carla is not at work, she enjoys walking with friends, taking pictures of birds and sunsets, or exploring new places with her husband and daughter.
