What is it?
The observance of the National Day of Prayer (NDP) is a relatively new resolution in our nation's brief history. The NDP is a federally-recognized day of prayer. President Harry Truman signed the Joint Resolution establishing the NDP on April 17, 1952. You can view/download Public Law 82-324: Joint Resolution; National Day of Prayer at govinfo.gov.
While the NDP is new, days of prayer are far from new for the United States or other nations around the globe. For example, the first day of prayer for the United States was on July 12, 1775. On this day, the Continental Congress Called for a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, "We have appointed a Continental fast. Millions will be upon their knees at once before their great Creator, imploring His forgiveness and blessing; His smiles on American Council and arms."
Why do we do it?
Of course, the step-sister of this question is, "Should we do it?" But first, what is the "why?" Days of prayer have been called for by our nation on numerous occasions. Two common themes that persist are expressed well in Adams's letter to his wife, forgiveness, and blessing.
Forgiveness - We as a country need to seek God's forgiveness first and foremost. Before asking for God to bless us, remove the COVID-19, return us to our work, keep us healthy, etc., we need to repent. This is often associated with fasting. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, the teaching on fasting accompanies it (For a sermon on fasting, check out my message at King Street Church, Chambersburg, PA, "The Unseen War for Your Heart: When You Fast, Matthew 6:16-18).
Blessing - Unfortunately, what people define as "blessing" may vary. Some may think of blessing solely from a materialistic standpoint, or from a political vantage point. What does it mean for us to pray for God's "blessing" on America? In 1775, it meant praying for "His smiles on American Council and arms," according to Adams. I'm not trying to defend or condemn his statement. In context, he may not be that far off. My challenge for you is to remember that the "blessedness" of God is promised to those who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted, and reviled. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven, comfort, inheritance, satisfaction, mercy from God, nearness with God, adoption in God's family, rejoicing for their reward from God.
Why do you pray on the NDP? Why do you pray any day? Is it to seek forgiveness? Is it to seek the blessedness from God? If not, then there is a need for repentance. Prayer is not about God serving me. Prayer is about God changing me. Through prayer God is changing me by forgiving me; renewing my mind; and reminding me of his blessedness, his joy, and his kingdom's purposes. Why do you pray? To build your kingdom or his?
Is this Nationalistic Idolatry?
Well, that depends. It depends on your heart and desire in the matter. Our motives do matter to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is often referenced in calls to prayer for churches, cities, or nations. 2 Chronicles 7:14 not written as a promise to America, or the United Kingdom, or any other nations today. However, the verse does provide a basis for praying in a way that honors God today.
Look at the verbs of 2 Chronicles 7:14. The first four actions that we are to take. The last three are God's.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Humility - Before one can cry out to God, they must rid themselves of pride. Jesus taught us to come to him as one who is poor in spirit.
Pray - Prayerlessness, as Daniel Henderson says, is our declaration of independence from God. Prayerlessness is a declaration of self-sufficiency and pride. To pray is to humble oneself.
Seek - God promised his people in Jeremiah 29:13 that even from captivity as exiles, "You will . . . find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Are you seeking God or seeking something from God? There is a difference. Does your seeking treat God like a vending machine in the sky?
Turn - Turning is the linchpin of repentance. To repent is to do a 180-degree turn. In Psalm 51, David said that God won't despise a contrite heart. To be contrite means to come remorseful and ready to obey. Contrite is not just being remorseful over the consequences of one's sin.
God's promise is to hear, forgive, and heal according to his will and wisdom. Remember that the promise to heal the land is a promise specifically related to the covenant people of Israel living in the promised land. The New Testament church does have similar promises that continue to speak to the relevance of this pattern or model for prayer. Consider 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." True confession means coming before God in humility. It means, through prayer, seeking God's face and turning away from our sinful ways.
Here's where our motives may be revealed. Will we pray and seek God even if his plan for America doesn't look like yours? Would you still pray to God even if he doesn't answer the way you think it should be? What if American Christianity goes on from bad to worse? What if we further depart from our religious heritage as a nation? We have to remember that people are not saved by a Judeo-Christian ethic or worldview. That worldview is vital and essential for well-functioning aspects of society, but it is not the hope of the gospel. Christians today and throughout history have thrived where a Judeo-Christian ethic and worldview are the minority report. Even still, I will personally advocate for, and vote towards, the preservation of these ends as a citizen of the United States. But as a citizen of heaven, what should my prayer be? What if the decline of America as a nation is part of God's plan for taking the gospel to the nearly 3.19 billion people who are "unreached."
After all, it was the persecution of the church in Jerusalem that sent the gospel to the surrounding regions: Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Perhaps the persecution of the church in America, or your home town, will further lead to the same type of gospel expansion.
Kathy Branzell, President of the National Day of Prayer, writing from their site, nationaldayofprayer.org, states that this year's theme is "Pray God's Glory Across the Earth." I like the theme. I like what it isn't and what it is. The theme isn't, "Pray God's Glory Across the USA." God's plan is much bigger than that. Revelation 7:9, "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."
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