National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer. It falls on the first Thursday of May every year. The National Day of Prayer Task Force, headed by Shirley Dobson, helps to organize events all over the country in addition to hosting a national event in Washington DC. But its coming now is bittersweet.

Two years ago, my friend, her husband, and I flew to Washington DC, and their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter drove up from Florida. We did some sight-seeing, but our week was organized around the National Day of Prayer event in one of the Congressional office buildings. We got in line early and were able to get seats inside, where Ollie North was the keynote speaker. My friend's husband even got to shake hands with Ollie North in the corridor outside the meeting room, and he told North how much he appreciated his show, "War Stories."

The next morning, my friend's husband died suddenly of a massive heart attack. He went from a Day of Prayer to an eternity of praise in just 24 hours. And I was able to help my friend get back home without the man she had leaned upon for years on end.

I think of this when I think of the National Day of Prayer, of how magnificent it was being in the same room with so many people of power and celebrity and Christian witness. And yet it pales in comparison to the glory still to come.

But a piece of that glory is ours here on earth each time we drop to our knees in prayer. We touch the Almighty--not just Christian witness, but Christ Himself--when we pray. And each year in our country, we are given a reminder and an opportunity to take part in the miracle of speaking to our God.

This year, as in the other years of his presidency, President Bush held a White House commemoration of the National Day of Prayer. The text of the speech he gave is here. This is just an excerpt:

Prayer is a gift from Almighty God that transforms us, whether we bow our heads in solitude, or offer swift and silent prayers in times of trial. Prayer humbles us by reminding us of our place in creation. Prayer strengthens us by reminding us that God loves and cares for each and every soul in His creation. And prayer blesses us by reminding us that there is a divine plan that stands above all human plans.

In the stillness and peace of prayer we surrender our will to God's will, and we learn to serve His eternal purposes. By opening ourselves to God's priorities, our hearts are stirred and we are inspired to action – to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to bring aid to a widow or to an orphan or to the less fortunate.

May you find time today (and every day) to take part in this gift from God.