By Senator Ed Moore (OK-Ret)
President, Prayer Force One

This Thursday, May 7th, Americans everywhere will again have the opportunity to join their fellow citizens for America's annual day of prayer for the nation. What a wonderful joy and privilege this day has become! Strangely enough however, this day, known as The National Day of Prayer, is now under attack.

Therefore, as president of Prayer Force One, America's Flagship of Prayer, I would like to explain why I enthusiastically support and defend The National Day of Prayer and then list some ways that everyone can be a part. At the end, you will find a notification of a special surprise concerning Prayer Force One and this year's observance of the National Day of Prayer.

The Historical Foundations of The National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer is a day designated by the United States Congress as a day when people are encouraged to pray for their country. It was officially created on April 17, 1952 when President Harry S. Truman signedthe JointHouse & Senate Resolution which officially authorized The National Day of Prayer.The day was originally created as a floating holiday, with the exact date to be determined byeach sitting President of the United States.

In 1982, a National Prayer Committee was formed toencourage a fixed date for The National Day of Prayer. (Prayer Force One is a member of The National Prayer Committee.) In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a Joint House and Senate Resolution, which amended the previous 1952 law by fixing the first Thursday in May each year as the permanent date of The National Day of Prayer.

There had been many national days of prayer in the U.S. before this day was made official in 1952. The Continental Congress issued a day of prayer in 1775 to designate "a time for prayer in forming a new nation". During the Quasi-War with France, President John Adams declared May 9, 1798 as "a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer", during which, citizens were encouraged to pray, "that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it".

For a shocking wake-up call, and to see how far we've drifted away from the historic and humble attitude of our Fathers, click below to read Abraham Lincoln's 1863, National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer Proclamation. It's hard to imagineLincoln's proclamation gettingto first base in today's Congress and White House. We thank our friends at Intercessors For America for bringing this historic document to our attention.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force

In 1988, the National Prayer Committee created an organization called The National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events to help and encourage evangelical Christians to observe the National Day of Prayer. Currently the Task Force offices are located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at facilities owned by Focus on the Family. Shirley Dobson, wife of Focus on the Family founder, James Dobson, presently heads the Task Force. (Shirley Dobson is pictured below with Sandy and I.)

The NDP Task Force website states: "Americans of all faiths are encouraged to participate in the National Day of Prayer according to their own traditions. However, the NDP Task Force provides promotional materials and sponsors events in keeping with the Judeo-Christian tradition".

Prayer Force One

In 2005, former Oklahoma State Senator Ed Moore commissioned a forty-foot bus christened, Prayer Force One, with the stated purpose of traveling the nation toencourage special days of national prayer, including the National Day of Prayer, National Prayer Force One Sunday, (each Sunday before a national election) and other days of national and international prayer significance.

Prayer Force One, the bus, was built the same year as Air Force One, (SAM-27000) and is painted with the exact same paint as Air Force One. Prayer Force One, a member of The National Prayer Committee, was on hand to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The National Prayer Committee as well as the twentieth anniversary of President Reagan signing theJoint Resolutionwhich established the first Thursday in May as The National Day of Prayer. This event was held in Miami, Florida in January of 2008.

The National Day of Prayer Comes Under Attack

Although Presidential and Congressional declarations calling for special days of national prayer in America are not new, President Bush and National Day of Prayer Task Force chairman, Shirley Dobson were recently named in a lawsuit by atheistic entities who are against all forms of public prayer and other public expressions of faith in God.

People of faith must combat all such assaults upon public faith in America. In doing battle for the soul of our nation, a solid grasp of the history of faith in America will prove to be one of our most powerful weapons. By way of example,you may want to visit our Hail To The Chief link, found on the home page of our web site. You will also find invaluable and easily accessible historical ammunition in Ed Moore's book, Prayer Force One: Across America. Click on the book below to order your copy today.

Why Is The National Day of Prayer So Important?

1. The National Day of Prayer provides one of the best forums to encourage the American people to fulfill the requirements laid out by the LORD in II Chronicles 7:14.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

National sins require national repentance. The National Day of Prayer fosters a platform for bringing about a community and nation-wide return to God in humility, and the public seeking of God's face and favor. In such a time as this, America must remember that our hope is in the God of our Fathers. A continued, secularized denial of this, will only lead to the further degradation of our nation and bring about the judgment of Almighty God.

2. The National Day of Prayer has become one of the most practical ways for communities to come together and celebrate their Christian heritage in a public forum. While people of other faiths are certainly welcome to observe the National Day of Prayer in any way they choose, in most cases, these events are natural expressions of the Christian faith that permeatesmostAmerican communities. As a result, the community is strengthened and Christian virtues are fostered within the community.

Prayer Force One encourages the Christian observance of The National Day of Prayer, leaving other faiths to observe it in any way they choose. We do not support a single inter-faith community observance, as being "a Babel of confusion". Prayer Force One participates only in events in which prayers are offered "In Jesus Name".

3. A Community-wide observance of The National Day of Prayer is a powerful testimony to our children, teenagers and fellow citizens. A community with a strong National Day of Prayer observance is invariably better for having this event and all that it affects, before, during and after the actual event. The fact that this happens annually multiplies this impact.

4. The National Day of Prayer is truly a national event with literally thousands of eventswith millions of contacts made annually. As such,The National Day Of Prayeris rivaled only by Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, as days thatspecifically honor God. Where prayer is concerned,itmay even exceed those days in national significance.

5. An annual observance of The National Day of Prayer is one area in which the church is able to celebrate unity in the body of Christ without threatening each groups individual distinctives.

6. Like the church itself, The National Day of Prayer has become virtually unassailable. Although the enemies of both will continue their onslaught against the kingdom of God, the church and our National Day of Prayer will remain impregnable. Even if some misguided judge were to rule against the two other branches of government that authorized The National Day of Prayer, it is doubtful if it would stand. On the contrary, such a ruling would only energize this annual event. This brings me to the last reason for supporting The National Day of Prayer.

7. The National Day of Prayer has become an American institution! We are now celebrating the 58th annual observance of The National Day of Prayer since Harry Truman signed theresolution that authorized it in 1952. This event is so well established that even liberal court action against it would have little effect on its observance. The National Day of Prayer is here to stay! In my opinion, The National Day of Prayer may well be one of the greatest legacies that certain far-sighted, spiritual individuals could ever have left to their nation.

For these and other reasons, Prayer Force One will continue to support, defend and champion America's National Day of Prayer. We commend the efforts of The National Prayer Committee, The National Day of Prayer Task Force, and the important, tireless work of individuals and community groups all across this God-blessed land, who have worked to make The National Day of Prayer the force for God and good that it is today. Keep up the good work!

Five Suggested Levels of Involvement & Participation

1. Private Observance. While Jesus never discouraged public prayer, he did exalt the practice of sincere, private prayer. Our public prayers and public prayer forums will be hollow shells if we as individuals do not practice solemn prayer in our personal lives. Therefore, whatever elsewe do to observe The National Day of Prayer, we must be sure that it begins with sincere and fervent prayer in our own prayer closet. We encourage you to make this day particularly special in your personal prayer life. Remember, repentance must begin in the hearts of individuals.

2. Family Observance. What could be more appropriate on this day than for parents to gather their children and grandchildren around for a solemn observance of The National Day of Prayer? Why not make plans right now for a special family observance of The National Day of Prayer? Call your married children. Invite your parents, cousins and other relatives. This could very well become a special, once-a-year day for your whole family. Such an observance will certainly leavea spiritualimprint,as well as fond memories of solemn faith in the hearts of our children... and it could impact their lives for many years to come.

3. Church Observance. More churches are beginning to implement church-wide observances of The National Day of Prayer all the time. Some invitecitizens to come to the church altar at any time during the day. Still others have special services. Pastors and church leaders are encouraged to make special plans to assist their members in taking part in The National Day of Prayer. Bulletin inserts are particularly helpful in letting congregants know what the church is doing, and also of special community events in which the church is participating. We believe that pastors are still the key. If our American pastors are asleep and uninspiring in promoting national prayer, our nation has little hope of Heaven's help.

4. Community Observance. This is the area in which The National Day Of Prayer really shines. The idea of thousands of communities meeting for the express purpose of acknowledging God in prayer is gloriously overwhelming. We encourage participation in events in your community. To find out about events in your area, keep an eye on your local newspaper. The National Day of Prayer Task Force also does a tremendous job of cataloging local events nation-wide on their web site at: www.ndptf.org. If you would like to become more involved ina community event or to start one in your area, you will find helpful material on theTaskForcesite.

5. State & National Observance. For those who would like to be more involved in The National Day of Prayer, there are events and activities at both the state and national levels.For more information,we again point you tothe NDP Task Force web site.

We're Off To Washington ForThe National Day of Prayer.

Please pray for safe travel for Sandy and I, and Bonnie and Barry Blenis, as we again represent you at our nation's Capitol Hill NDP observance in Washington DC. It will be an honor to meet with many distinguished Christians from the United States House and Senate. This event willbe available for viewing on GodTV. Duringour time in Washington, we will be meeting as part of The National Prayer Committee and also with the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

On Friday, it is our intention toconduct a prayer walk around the U.S. Capitol, The Supreme Court and The White House. Please join us in spirit as we circle these buildings in prayer. Pray that God will bless and guide or thwart and intervene, as the case requires, in the lives of the national leaders that occupy these important positions of earthly power.

This year's NDP honorary chairman is Beth Moore, (pictured below with The National Prayer Committee's, Kathy Branzell) at last year's event in Washington.Beth will be hosting a ladies prayer breakfast and speaking to all the participants as well. Pray that God uses this year's national observance as He has never used it before. Pray that God alone will receive the glory inall thattranspires.

Surprise Announcement Coming!

Watch your e-mail box fora surprise National Day of Prayer announcement from Prayer Force One. As you know, for three years, we have sponsored a virtual White House prayer meeting each day. This was interupted by changes in the new administration's web site.However,it appears that we may have a special surprise coming for you by Wednesday evening, just in time for The National Day of Prayer. Stay tuned!

May God bless each of you as you continue to hold our nation up in prayer.