By Dr. Mark Creech
Executive Director
Christian Action League
May 4, 2017
Thursday millions of people joined together, in huddles, in homes, and in various habitations to pray for our nation. It was the National Day of Prayer, set for the first Thursday in May of each year, and established in 1952 by President Harry Truman.
All true Americans in the spirit of good-will desire for our nation to be like a well-watered garden, a place of peace and prosperity. But in a day of peril, with enemies from within and without, this nation is more in danger of becoming a place of fallow ground.
Perhaps as never before, the National Day of Prayer ought to serve as a means of help and healing.
John Bunyan said that “prayer is a shield for the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” Bunyan added, “Prayer is as the pitcher that fetches water from the brook, therewith to water the herbs. Break the pitcher and it will fetch no water and for want of water the garden withers.”
Read the Proclamation by our President, Donald Trump: 2017 Proclamation.
On this special day, I joined people from across the state at the Halifax Mall, behind the Legislative Building in Raleigh, to pray for our state and nation. Rep. Bert Jones (R-Rockingham) offered, what I thought, was a marvelous prayer:
“Our Father and our God,
“As you know, today is a day that our nation has set apart as a National Day of Prayer. These present have gathered together at the seat of our state’s government to pray for our state and nation. We come into your presence with praise and thanksgiving, acknowledging you as our Creator, Sustainer, and Giver of life.
“As nations rise and fall by your Sovereign hand, you have sustained this nation from its beginning. By your grace and mercy, you have made us a great nation despite our faults. You have blessed us beyond measure. Through our good times and bad, you have always been there as a wondrous God, a God who never changes, a God of all truth who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
“Our hearts rejoice as you have often used this nation as a force for good in this world. However, we must also confess that there are past and present sins of which we need to repent. Your Word tells us that ‘righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’ Help us to love good and to hate evil, and grant us godly wisdom in discerning the difference. Help us to be loving, patient and kind, and give us the courage to stand for the truth…Your truth will endure to all generations. Help us to be a shining city on a hill as a nation under God. Your Word tells us, ‘blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ As we often recite the words ‘God bless America,’ help us to be such a nation…one who’s God is the Lord.
“May you be exalted here on earth, as you are in heaven. May you be exalted in our nation. May you be exalted in our hearts.
“I offer my prayer in the name of your Son, Christ my Savior. Amen.”
To see so many earnestly praying for revival in our churches and a great spiritual awakening to sweep our land brought tears to my eyes. Prayers were offered for our leaders. Prayers were offered for forgiveness and a recovery of those things that made us great.
Surely Satan trembles when he sees a contrite nation on its knees.
Let us move on from this special day of prayer to regularly praying for our homes, our churches, the great state of North Carolina and the land of the free, remembering that our daily prayers will lessen our daily cares.