Next week is the National Day of Prayer (NDP). I was looking at the official website, which has a history of the national day of prayer. There were several things that stop and made me say, “What!?” Things that make me want to laugh and cry at the same time. First, there is this quote by Shirley Dobson, chairman of the National Day of Prayer (under the section that says The National Day of Prayer is Ours) – “We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep. I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.” I wonder what freedoms exactly we have lost by sleeping. Then I wonder which freedom she is suggesting we will forfeit if we do not become involved in the NDP. The freedom to pray? Does she believe that the Bill of Rights will be overturned and trampled on if we don’t have the NDP? That the 1st Amendment will be repealed if the President does not proclaim a national day of prayer? (Do God’s people really need the president to tell us we need to pray for our nation?)
And what president would not proclaim a NDP? Especially considering this “Fun Fact” also found on the site – “33 of the 44 U.S. Presidents have signed proclamations for National Prayer. Four of the Presidents who did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office.” Apparently not declaring a NDP can lead to divine wrath. In what way is that a “fun” fact?
I don’t think I will wait for the NDP. I need to pray now.
