There have been many times in the history of our great nation that times of prayer and fasting have been called for by our leaders. It is good to look back and remember. Before becoming President, as leader of the colonial army, George Washington called a national day of prayer and fasting as the French were threatening this infant country. He was not afraid to mix religion and politics, boldly he went to church to ask for God's blessing.
On June 12, 1774, the First Continental Congress issued a proclamation for a national day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer to beheld on July 20th throughout the colonies. Congress urged Americans to confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions and by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease God’s righteous displeasure, and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness.
In 1779, Congress set aside the first Thursday in May as a day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer to Almighty God. "
President George Washington declared February 19, 1795 as a day for prayer and public thanksgiving.
President John Adams declared May 9, 1798 a national day of Solemn, Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer.
President James Buchanan proclaimed a national day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer for January 4, 1861
President Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional Resolution calling for a Day of prayer on March 30, 1863
President Harry Truman signed legislation proclaiming a national Day of Prayer. This bill had widespread support and passed unanimously in the Congress.
In 1988, president Ronald Regan signed Public Law 100-307 which permanently set aside the first Thursday in May as a day for prayer for our nation and her leaders.
Following September 13, 2001, President Bush called for a "National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001."
On March 27, 2003 by a vote of 346-49, The House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for a national day of humility, prayer and fasting in a time of war and terrorism., The resolution stated that Americans should use the day of prayer to seek the guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities, and to gain resolve' in meeting the challenges that confront our nation.
Prayer is the communication tool that God chose for his people—it is the access we have to the, spiritual and heavenly thoughts of God. Fasting is an act where we let go of our most precious and pressing fleshly desires. Prayer and fasting are both done with a desire to please God and be obedient to His desires
Personally, I am against a national day of prayer.
Quote:
Matthew 6:5
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
I think that a national day of prayer is all about hypocritical politicians trying to score conservative points, and I'll have nothing to do with it. I'll pray the way I always pray, thank you very much.
Good point. There are right ways and wrong ways to do all things. IMO just because a few choose the wrong reasons, doesn't justify removing the rememberance of God from before the masses. As one that has read his bible, do you ever recall God and his messengers calling the nation of Israel to prayer and fasting? Even to not feeding the animals, ect. What happened? What would have happened without the prayers and fasting? If one is asked to join another in praying for a need, are we asking him, or her, to become a pharisee and a hyprocrite?
One shall put a 1,000 to flight and 2 shall put 10,000 to flight. Are we against unity and joining forces with the brethern in a group, or mass pray? Isn't it true that a 2 fold cord isn't easily broken?
Make a list of all the evil that can come from public prayer,then make a list of all the blessings that come from not praying and compare the two.
I'll pray the way I always pray, thank you very much.
Eto, Didn't you just open the door for all to judge your prayers by the same standard you have used to condemn others prayers? Did you pray about your reply before sending it?
I understand what you are saying about politicians just trying to make points by talking about this subject. I also know what Jesus said about the publicans and hypocrits wanting to be heard in public. I also know that there are many examples in the word of God where the leaders of the nation of Israel called on God for help against their enemies and for guidance. The key is in the attitude of the petitioner. Let God be the judge of the intent of their heart. If our nation would humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways, it would be amazing to see what God would do for us. Let those who want to gain political points or make a show be judged by God. But let those who would like to seek forgiveness and and pray for our nation, join together in seeking God's blessings, whether in public or private.
Blessings.....Pastorjim
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Mere religion is just hanging around the cross.......True Christianity is getting on the cross.
Thanks PastorJim, You said it much better than I could. Men ought always to pray and faint not. The only time prayer is detrmential is when it is absent from our midst.
Thanks PastorJim, You said it much better than I could. Men ought always to pray and faint not. The only time prayer is detrmential is when it is absent from our midst.
So Christ was wrong. Praying as a hypocrite is fine?
So Christ was wrong. Praying as a hypocrite is fine?
Eto, No one said that unless it was you. Jesus has every right , seeing that he is God manifest in the flesh, and the one given the right to be the judge of the quick and the dead, to pass his righteous judgement upon one and all. But my Brother, where and when did Jesus deligate the authority of judging whether or not a prayer is true and from the heart, or if the one doing the praying is in fact a hyprocrite. Isn't such judgement one of the charactericts of the ones that Jesus labeled as "Hyprocrites".
I don't recall ever seeing a call to prayer, setting such a burr under a believers saddle.
YOU said "he only time prayer is detrmential is when it is absent from our midst."
Christ said praying like a hypocrite is "detrimental." Your quote is at odds with Christ.
Quote:
Jesus has every right , seeing that he is God manifest in the flesh, and the one given the right to be the judge of the quick and the dead, to pass his righteous judgement upon one and all. But my Brother, where and when did Jesus deligate the authority of judging whether or not a prayer is true and from the heart, or if the one doing the praying is in fact a hyprocrite. Isn't such judgement one of the charactericts of the ones that Jesus labeled as "Hyprocrites".
I don't recall ever seeing a call to prayer, setting such a burr under a believers saddle.
I think the key to is in the "being seen by men" portion of Jesus' teaching. Why do politicians (especially the corrupt crop of this generation) do ANYTHING except to be seen, i.e. score political points? Politicians want to be seen supporting a day of prayer so they can get Christians' votes.
No, I refuse to put my faith in the motivations of politicians. If this is not the current example of what Christ taught us to avoid, nothing is. And if I am wrong, then nothing is lost by maintaining my daily prayer life, and refusing to acknlowedge what I see as a spiritual pitfall.
Least Washington would let us forget--
