Today, May 2, 2013, is recognized as the National Day of Prayer. I had the privilege earlier today of gathering with a group of Bible-believing pastors in our community to pray for our community and her leaders, our state, and our nation. I hope you also have taken some time or will do so to cry out to God for America. I am reminded of the words of President Harry Truman:

We all can pray. We all should pray. We should ask the fulfillment of God’s will. We should ask for courage, wisdom, for the quietness of soul which comes alone to them who place their lives in His hands.

The Word of God tells us: “…we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us” (Ezra 8:22b-23).

We also read in Scripture: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:1-2).

Leaders today, especially the President of the United States, confront issues and challenges our founding fathers never could have imagined. Our leaders simply cannot rely upon human wisdom alone as they face the many complexities of life in the twenty-first century. They must pray. They must have the wisdom that only comes from above. But our leaders cannot bear this burden by themselves. If we are truly patriotic – and faithful to the Lord and His Word – we must pray, too. Not only does our President and our national leaders need the prayer, but we need the discipline of praying!

The late Dr. Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ International, once said: “As our nation faces a troubled and uncertain future, it is more imperative than ever that we continue to uphold it, and our President, in fervent prayer. It is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian in America.”

The great Baptist preacher of London, C. H. Spurgeon, said: “Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.” What we can accomplish on our own is limited, but God can do the impossible. Please join me in praying for our President and our nation!