The trumpet is sounding, rallying the people of God to come with “one voice” in prayer and repentance.
Around the world and especially in our very nation, we see the battles of good and evil raging. We, as a nation are too often filled with pride, selfish ambition, materialism, greed, envy, and all types of evil and idolatry. We live in a day and culture where often evil is called good and good evil. Too often, we Christians follow the world and would rather our ears be tickled and entertained than to adhere to the great calling and purpose we have been given.
We are in need of a wake up call. Sound the trumpets! Rally the troops! Put on sack cloth and, like Ezra, pour out your heart to intercede in prayer for this nation. Will you answer the call? Will you join us? It begins with me. It begins with you.
May 1st is our nation’s “National Day of Prayer”. This day was originally declared by George Washington for the people of our fledgling nation to humble themselves before the Almighty God in prayer, fasting, and in seeking His will and ways. It is a day set aside to meditate on His goodness. A day to give thanks and to praise His name! The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has blessed us with grand providence and provision! Ask the thousands, if not millions, who have fled to this nation in search of freedom and in hopes of finding refuge, my own ancestors included. God, in His grace, allowed this Nation to rise into a world power. It was a place of freedom and hope for millions of people fleeing persecution or hardships. God, in His sovereignty, has protected her and poured out his blessings on her. Sadly, like the Israelites, we Christians have fallen in love with the gifts instead of the giver. We can be fickle people and prone to leave the God we claim to love. Will you join us in “rending your hearts and not your garments” this May 1st? Will you join us in interceding for the individuals of this Nation? As you ponder your own whole hearted devotion to the LORD GOD who is worthy of all praise, take time to also reflect on the plight of our Nation. Take a minute to read President Ronald Reagan’s 1983 address below and join us in prayer. Choose this day whom you will serve.!
JANUARY 27, 1983 - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
PRAYER IS THE MAINSPRING OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT, A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF OUR PEOPLE SINCE BEFORE THE REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED. A YEAR BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IN 1775, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PROCLAIMED THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AS THE INITIAL POSITIVE ACTION THEY ASKED OF EVERY COLONIST.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN 1783, THE TREATY OF PARIS OFFICIALLY ENDED THE LONG, WEARY REVOLUTIONARY WAR DURING WHICH A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER HAD BEEN PROCLAIMED EVERY SPRING FOR EIGHT YEARS. WHEN PEACE CAME, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WAS FORGOTTEN. FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY, AS THE NATION GREW IN POWER AND WEALTH, WE PUT ASIDE THIS DEEPEST EXPRESSION OF AMERICAN BELIEF -- OUR NATIONAL DEPENDENCE ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
IT TOOK THE TRAGEDY OF THE CIVIL WAR TO RESTORE A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID, “INTOXICATED WITH UNBROKEN SUCCESS, WE HAVE BECOME TOO SELF-SUFFICIENT TO FEEL THE NECESSITY OF REDEEMING AND PRESERVING GRACE, TOO PROUD TO PRAY TO THE GOD THAT MADE US.''
REVIVED AS AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE BY CONGRESS IN 1952, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER HAS BECOME A GREAT UNIFYING FORCE FOR OUR CITIZENS WHO COME FROM ALL THE GREAT RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. PRAYER UNITES PEOPLE. THIS COMMON EXPRESSION OF REVERENCE HEALS AND BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A NATION, AND WE PRAY IT MAY ONE DAY BRING RENEWED RESPECT FOR GOD TO ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.
FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON'S STRUGGLE AT VALLEY FORGE TO THE PRESENT, THIS NATION HAS FERVENTLY SOUGHT AND RECEIVED DIVINE GUIDANCE AS IT PURSUED THE COURSE OF HISTORY. THIS OCCASION PROVIDES OUR NATION WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF OUR BLESSINGS, AND TO SEEK HIS HELP FOR THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1983, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. I CALL UPON EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT NATION TO GATHER TOGETHER ON THAT DAY IN HOMES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP TO PRAY, EACH AFTER HIS OR HER OWN MANNER, FOR UNITY OF THE HEARTS OF ALL MANKIND.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 27TH DAY OF JAN., IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE, AND OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTH.
RONALD REAGAN
[FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, 11:22 A.M., JANUARY 28, 1983]
NOTE: THE TEXT OF THE PROCLAMATION WAS RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY ON JANUARY 28.
A PROCLAMATION
PRAYER IS THE MAINSPRING OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT, A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF OUR PEOPLE SINCE BEFORE THE REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED. A YEAR BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IN 1775, THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS PROCLAIMED THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AS THE INITIAL POSITIVE ACTION THEY ASKED OF EVERY COLONIST.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN 1783, THE TREATY OF PARIS OFFICIALLY ENDED THE LONG, WEARY REVOLUTIONARY WAR DURING WHICH A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER HAD BEEN PROCLAIMED EVERY SPRING FOR EIGHT YEARS. WHEN PEACE CAME, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WAS FORGOTTEN. FOR ALMOST HALF A CENTURY, AS THE NATION GREW IN POWER AND WEALTH, WE PUT ASIDE THIS DEEPEST EXPRESSION OF AMERICAN BELIEF -- OUR NATIONAL DEPENDENCE ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
IT TOOK THE TRAGEDY OF THE CIVIL WAR TO RESTORE A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID, “INTOXICATED WITH UNBROKEN SUCCESS, WE HAVE BECOME TOO SELF-SUFFICIENT TO FEEL THE NECESSITY OF REDEEMING AND PRESERVING GRACE, TOO PROUD TO PRAY TO THE GOD THAT MADE US.''
REVIVED AS AN ANNUAL OBSERVANCE BY CONGRESS IN 1952, THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER HAS BECOME A GREAT UNIFYING FORCE FOR OUR CITIZENS WHO COME FROM ALL THE GREAT RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD. PRAYER UNITES PEOPLE. THIS COMMON EXPRESSION OF REVERENCE HEALS AND BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A NATION, AND WE PRAY IT MAY ONE DAY BRING RENEWED RESPECT FOR GOD TO ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.
FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON'S STRUGGLE AT VALLEY FORGE TO THE PRESENT, THIS NATION HAS FERVENTLY SOUGHT AND RECEIVED DIVINE GUIDANCE AS IT PURSUED THE COURSE OF HISTORY. THIS OCCASION PROVIDES OUR NATION WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER RECOGNIZE THE SOURCE OF OUR BLESSINGS, AND TO SEEK HIS HELP FOR THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1983, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. I CALL UPON EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS GREAT NATION TO GATHER TOGETHER ON THAT DAY IN HOMES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP TO PRAY, EACH AFTER HIS OR HER OWN MANNER, FOR UNITY OF THE HEARTS OF ALL MANKIND.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 27TH DAY OF JAN., IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD NINETEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE, AND OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTH.
RONALD REAGAN
[FILED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, 11:22 A.M., JANUARY 28, 1983]
NOTE: THE TEXT OF THE PROCLAMATION WAS RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY ON JANUARY 28.
Prayer:
To the Almighty Sovereign LORD,
There is none like You. Forgive us our sins and transgression and make us willing to forgive and love others, especially when it’s difficult. Grant us the strength, humility, and courage to do your will. Set our hearts on fire with love and passion for your great name! Turn our affections from anything and everything that is outside of your will. You alone are worthy of our hearts devotion.
We pray for a revival to spread throughout the nation and world by leading the church to repentance by your mercy and grace. Deliver us from temptation and save us
from the enemy. May we be a generation that is found faithful and true in your eyes. A people full of LIFE, full of JOY, full of HOPE, full of LOVE, full of POWER, and full of YOU. You are our God and we are your people. Come LORD JESUS, Come! To your name be all
the glory. Amen!
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