This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
Greetings!
We are overflowing with gratitude as our National Day of Prayer Task Force coordinators are sharing their reports and glory stories from their National Day of Prayer gatherings. Across America people gathered in town squares, around flagpoles, in businesses, stadiums, museums, government buildings, golf courses, on planes, trains, golf carts, in parks, on beaches, boats and more. Millions of hearts and voices came together to “Exalt the Lord Who Has Established Us” and we continue to thank God for all the prayers that were prayed, the speakers who shared, the songs that were sung, the seeds that were planted in hearts and for those who gave their hearts and lives to Jesus after hearing the gospel at their prayer gathering. Praise God!
We would love to hear from you! Let us know how you observed the National Day of Prayer; where you prayed, who you prayed with, if you watched our National Broadcast, and anything special or specific that resonated in your heart. You may have enjoyed an excellent keynote speaker, met someone new that you are going to continue to pray with, or pray for in the coming months. I pray that something you experienced strengthened your resolve to pray every day for your neighbor and nation.
Beyond the singers and speakers, have you been pondering the prayers that were prayed? It is said that “prayer is caught not taught.” In other words, we learn to pray by praying with other people; our prayers grow in intimacy and intensity, in depth and diversity, as we hear other people pray. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray… Jesus prayed. Thousands of sermons, books and conferences have pointed out the various prayer points and structure of “The Lord’s Prayer,” but instead of going into a discussion about the parts of prayer, relationship in prayer, position, and condition of the heart as we pray, Jesus modeled all of these in prayer.
Scripture is filled with the prayers of people, and we learn to pray by reading their prayers and praying with others. Your family learns to pray listening to you pray. Take time to increase prayer from “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food…” by naming some of God’s great attributes so your friends and family get to know God better and learn to praise Him. Thank Him for more than your food; expand on gratefulness as God always acts in His goodness. We pray that your prayer life grows as you read and pray with us through our articles and videos each week. You do not need to be elegant or use complicated words; the point is to speak respectfully and relationally from your heart as you walk through life with God.
Please send us your stories; tell us about your day and the prayers you prayed and if you “caught” something new that you will put into practice as you continue to pray. Email us at glory.story@nationaldayofprayer.org
Will you pray with me right now?
Awesome God, Wonderful Savior, King of Kings, Author and authority of our life; thank You for loving us, for saving us, for preparing our path and lighting it with Your Word, guiding and equipping us in Your Spirit. You are worthy of our praise and thanks. Thank you for the National Day of Prayer; the opportunity to pray in agreement with millions of people around the world and neighbors in our communities. Thank you for hearing our prayers and for answering our prayers to Your glory and plans. We lift America up to you as we exalt You. We want America to bless You, to be the nation You established. We pray that we would know and obey Your Word, will and ways; that our laws and lips would glorify you. In moments where we are prone to complain, prompt us to pray; to put our fears, hurt, and anger into Your hands, the ONLY hands the hold our hearts and the universe. In Jesus name, amen.
Serving Him with Gladness,
Kathy Branzell
President, National Day of Prayer Task Force