Warm hellos friends, brethren, co-workers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God, from our offices here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you all doing well, and that again your week too has been blessed.

On April 17, 1952, U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer be declared by each president at a date of his choice. In 1988, the law was amended so the day would be on the first Thursday in May as it still continues. Its annual observance, designated by the U.S. Congress, is when people are asked to turn to God in prayer, meditation and reflection.

Yesterday, Thursday, May 6th was designated as the National Day of Prayer. No doubt, many activities and gatherings went on. Unfortunately many simply ignored it, and went about their daily lives.

Yes, that’s right, many people didn’t even take notice of it. In fact, some Presidents haven’t even mentioned Christianity in their addresses or into regards to this day. The question comes to mind, is this something you and I should do? Is this something that we should do as far as “praying for our country”?

Actually in scripture we’re given instruction to do this very thing. We can find one example in 1 Timothy chapter 2. At the very beginning of the chapter the Apostle Paul tells us, “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority.”

So we see what we’re supposed to be praying about. And he says, “That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” And in fact here’s what he says in verse 3, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

And so it’s a good thing to pray for our country, or wherever we might live, not just in the United States. It’s a good thing to pray for our leadership. In fact it’s something he’s indicating that we better be doing because it helps us to realize in part where our real hope is.

Is our trust in human leaders, our nation, or our government, or is our trust in something so very much bigger than that?

There’s another passage back in Matthew that Christ talked about this question. It was a quote from Isaiah where He spoke in Matthew chapter 12, and ultimately as we pray for our leaders, ultimately as we pray for our countries, we must realize that our only real hope lies in God. Whether individually or as a nation, our hope must lie in God. And not only that, in addition to praying, we must be doing those things He requires in our lives.

Notice what Christ said in Matthew 12. He says very clearly at the beginning of verse 21, Christ quotes Isaiah and He points to Himself when He says, “In His name the nations set their hope” (Matthew 12:21). Some translations say the “Gentiles” put their trust.

The important question is, where do we as a people, where do we as a nation put our trust?

This National Day of Prayer should remind us as God’s people we absolutely need to put our trust in God. It should also clearly remind us that we need to be doing what He says, and following His Commandments.

We’re looking forward to the time when Jesus Christ will ultimately establish God’s government upon His return. And He is returning. So in the meantime we seek God, and we do pray. We pray for our leaders. We pray for our country. We pray individually, pray for one another, and we look to God for the ultimate guide in our lives. We pray “Thy Kingdom Come”. (Matt. 6:10)

Arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.