Reflections from History and Faith:

The National Day of Prayer

By Jeff Olson

As a nation rooted in Biblical principles and faith, America has a rich history of prayer. It’s role in both the private and public life of our nation is indisputable and has been crucial to Divine Providence in guiding our nation and in bestowing God’s blessings on our great land.

This has been reflected in set-aside times of prayer and fasting since our nation’s beginning. In the early days of the New England colonies, community days of prayer and fasting were common, often prompted by such calamities as disease, drought, and dangers from attack. Also, state- or nation-wide days of prayer were called in times of great danger and even in times of relative peace and stability. 

To cite just a few: On July 20, 1775, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending “a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer” be observed.

In 1795, George Washington proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.

As governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson signed a proclamation for a day of thanksgiving and prayer to be held on Dec. 9, 1779.

On May 9, 1798, John Adams declared this day as “a day of solemn humility, fasting, and prayer.” 

On March 3, Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution, during the Civil War, which called for Apr. 30, 1863, as a day of fasting and prayer.

Having become such an inherent, ingrained part of our culture of faith, these proclamations continued well into the 20th century and by the early 1950s, when our nation was embroiled in the Korean War (1950-1953), the Rev. Billy Graham (1918-2018) issued a challenge for a yearly, set-aside National Day of Prayer. He stated: “What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril.” A representative from Tennessee recognized the challenge issued by Billy Graham and began a campaign to have an official National Day of Prayer each year.

This campaign culminated in a joint resolution passed by Congress (Public Law 82-324) and signed by President Harry Truman on Apr. 17, 1952. This law essentially stated that a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each successive president a day he deemed appropriate.

Thirty-six years later and 35 years ago, on May 5, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed an amendment to it (Public Law 100-307), designating the first Thursday of May each year as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer. As he stated: “On our National Day of Prayer, then, we join together as people of many faiths to petition God to show us His mercy and His love, to heal our weariness and uphold our hope, that we might live ever mindful of His justice and thankful for His blessing.”

The 2023 National Day of Prayer is this Thursday, May 4. The theme for this year ‘s observance is “Pray Fervently in Righteousness and Avail Much,” which is based in James 5:16B: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man vails much.” 

On this special day, people of different faiths are invited to pray for the United States of America and its leaders. For more information, you can visit the National Day of Prayer website at https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/

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Ethan Nahté

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