National Day of Prayer

Compiled here are some items pertaining to May 3, our National Day of Prayer:
"I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life ." 1 Timothy 2:1-2

We are to pray for those in authority over us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ National days of prayer are nothing new in the United States. The first call to prayer came in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming the nation. In 1952, President Truman signed a joint resolution by Congress declaring an annual national day of prayer. Then, in 1988, the Truman law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently establishing the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer.
Our country has been uniting in prayer on that day ever since. Now, with the nation as divided as ever about the war in Iraq and with transitions of power fully underway in Congress, the President, our leaders and every man and woman in uniform need God’s guidance like never before. You can pray His presence into their lives with your participation in the National Day of Prayer through The Presidential Prayer Team Online Prayer Rally on Thursday, May 3.
You will partner throughout the day with Christians across the nation in this great, continuous prayer meeting for our President, leaders and troops. Unified prayer is powerful, “for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
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National Day of Prayer, 2007 -A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
A prayerful spirit has always been an important part of our national character, and it is a force that has guided the American people, given us strength, and sustained us in moments of joy and in times of challenge. On this National Day of Prayer, we acknowledge God's grace and ask for His continued guidance in the life of our Nation.
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 important 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 Congress, by Public Law 100 307, as amended, has called on our Nation to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society and to respect the freedom of religion by recognizing each year a "National Day of Prayer."
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 according 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 WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH
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Dobson Stresses Unity, Repentance for Day of Prayer Observance
OneNewsNow.com reports that the chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer is urging people observing Thursday's event to follow the example of King David when they seek "divine help." Shirley Dobson said the aid of prayer is the only way to heal a culture wracked with violence and anxiety. The National Day of Prayer has been a part of American history since the Continental Congress of 1775. In 1988, Ronald Reagan declared that the first Thursday of May would be a National Day of Prayer. Mrs. Dobson's take is that the NDop is a day for Americans of all faiths to "drop their denominational tags and racial and cultural differences" and unite in prayer. Dobson expects some 50,000 prayer gatherings to take place on Thursday, focusing on unity and repentance of sin.
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Three Minutes of Silence
As part of our preparation for the National Day of Prayer, it is vital that each of us takes some time to ready our heart so that we might approach God's throne of grace unhindered by sin. After all, if we are to seek the Lord's forgiveness and blessing upon our nation, we must begin with personal repentance. Only as we come before Him with broken and contrite spirits will our petitions on behalf of America prove powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Therefore, we are calling on everyone who will be leading a time of intercession on May 3rd to set aside three minutes for silent group reflection prior to commencing with your prayer observance. During that period, we request that you ask those in attendance to humbly and expectantly come before our Heavenly Father, asking Him to cleanse all unrighteousness and restore us to Himself. David intimately understood the importance of acknowledging our individual and corporate sin, and we believe his words recorded in Psalm 139:23-24 demonstrate our desperate need for the Lord's purifying, redemptive power: "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." May we make David's cry our own. Then, as we participate in this year's NDP events, we can lift up holy hands to our God, confident that He will hear our pleas for His mercy and bring healing to this land.
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2007 Prayer for Our Nation -Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.
In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant
. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound
. . . our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation,
under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray,
Amen.
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Suggestions as you pray for our leaders in government office:
For their family
For safety and protection
For wise mentors who can hold them accountable
For wisdom and guidance in making decisions
For courage in the face of adversity
For integrity and righteousness.
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Blackaby Ministries International is proud to stand with the National Day of Prayer in support of the brave men and women serving our nation at home and overseas. Join us as we pray for America's armed forces and the families who stand behind them. We believe when people are placing their lives daily in the face of danger that we need to do all we can to bring them assurance that God is watching over them and that they can have courage and peace in their difficult circumstances.
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National Observance - Webcast -Washington D.C.
Join with us as we celebrate America's 56th annual National Day of Prayer from our nation's capitol. The National Observance will take place Thursday, May 3rd, and a segment will be broadcast live. This webcast will enable you to join the prayer event already in progress. Broadcasting will begin at 1:16 p.m. (Eastern) and conclude at 2:03 p.m.
Presenters include:
Charles Billingsley (Praise and Worship)
Dr. James Dobson
Dr. Charles Swindoll
Signature Sound
click to go to the NDofP page for webcasting instructions
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to hear Dr Charles Swindoll Radio Message on the National day of Prayer:
click here
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Most of this content has come from the US National Day of Prayer website. There are also many more articles and materiatls to be found there. For much more information, here is the link to the National Day of Prayer website