Whatever you call your higher being, it’s a good time to have some sort of faith and something to believe in.
The National Day of Prayer is observed annually on the first Thursday in May, which is today, May 7. This day observance, designated by the United States Congress, asks people “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.”
Many people have been spiritual in their own ways seeking hope, guidance and prayer for those affected by the coronavirus — the sick and those attending to the sick.
For many, prayer is an integral part of daily life. Prayer offers a rich connection to our spiritual lives, nurturing our relationships and faith. It also provides comfort in times of crisis or need.
People of many different faiths join in prayer on this #NationalDayOfPrayer. Some may attend their church, synagogue, mosque, temple or monasteries of their choice to pray, others will attend interdenominational prayer events, join prayer groups or meditate on their own.
In our nation’s history, presidents and government officials have called for national days of prayer or thanks intermittently since before the country’s existence, starting in 1775 when the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending “a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer” be observed.
In the early 1950s, an evangelical movement called for Congress and the President to proclaim a National Day of Prayer. The movement grew and a young leader, Evangelist Billy Graham, led services for approximately 20,000 on the steps of the Capitol on February 3, 1952. Later that year, Congress proclaimed a joint resolution for a National Day of Prayer. President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a National Day of Prayer to be observed on July 4, 1952. Each year since that date, Americans have observed the day in their own way. The observance moved to the first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan and has been proclaimed each year since.
