Pres. Bush has issued his annual Proclamation for National Prayer Day. Many citizens never read or hear these proclamations from our president. Even newspapers and other media seldom offer these proclamations which are issued periodically. In our modern-day technological society, citizens have access at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007.

Some of Pres. Bush’s public 2007 National Prayer Proclamation:

“Americans of many faiths and traditions share a common belief that God hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to those who seek Him. Following the tragedy at Virginia Tech, in towns all across America, in houses of worship from every faith, Americans have joined together to pray for the lives that were lost and for their families, friends, and loved ones. We hold the victims in our hearts and pray for those who suffer and grieve. There is a power in these prayers, and we can find comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God.

At this time in our history, we also pray for the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families. We pray for their safety, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace we all seek.”

The ending paragraph: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 3, 2007, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each acccording to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God’s continued guidance, comfort, and protection. I invite all Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”

In communities across our nation, citizens will gather together at breakfasts-lunches-or-dinners to acknowledge God’s providence, thankfulness for His faithfulness, and lifting up prayer requests for our nation, our leaders, our troops in foreign lands, and that ever elusive peace in the world.

Since 9/11, many churches and many Christians, individually and in small groups, have daily prayed for America, her people, her leaders, and for the enemy. As in earlier times, we pray that America’s people will return to God, that we drop to our knees in repentance of not only our individual sinfulness, but in our knowledge of our nation’s sinfulness. The Hope is that God may continue His providence, His blessings, with His hand upon and in America, keeping her strong so that we may continue to be a shining light pushing back the darkness that threatens to enfold us and set an example to the world of our Love of God.

In Alexis de Tocqueville’s 1835 book, “Democracy in America,” he observed America and the strong influence of its inhabitants’ Christianity “...There are countless sects in the United States. Each reveres the Creator in a different fashion, but all agree about man’s duties to his fellow man. Each worships God in its own way, but all preach the same morality in God’s name... all sects in the United States are encompassed within the overarching unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is the same everywhere.”

Christians have observed in the modern age that God’s influence is waning as the people turn away from Him to self-gratification where comfort and convenience are the bywords with emphasis on materialism and entertainment. There doesn’t seem to be enough time for God and prayers.

The habit of prayer resides in the personal relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. It is neither an annual occurrence nor is it weekly church attendance. It is a life lived knowing that God goes with you every single moment of everyday. Talking to Him and listening for His direction is one of conscious will to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Yes --- people of God, we must pray as never before -- not just on National Prayer Day -- not just when evil touches us with death and destruction. Each day, we must talk with God, our Bibles open before us, and listen.

Our prayer to God is that there be a revival in America, one that surpasses all others in history, that changes and turns the hearts and minds of the people to God. We keep hearing that there is power in prayer, but the power is not in the prayers we utter. The power awaits at the throne of Heaven and in the heart of God Himself. He acts through His own Will according to His own plan and purpose.

He is patiently waiting.

© 2007 Bonnie Alba
Comments: tttalba@hotmail.com