National Day of Prayer-Thursday, May 6

By: Steve Huston

 

In just two short days (Thursday, May 6 from 12:00-1:15 PM) American Decency Association will be hosting a local National Day of Prayer (203 E. Main Street, Fremont, MI  49412); we invite you to this sweet and intimate time of fellowship with kindred spirits.

“If there is any one duty within the whole range of revelation more explicitly adverted to, more positively enjoined, more frequently practiced, and to the performance of which more promises are annexed in the Scriptures than another, it is that of prayer. Prayer is a duty which commends itself to every man’s conscience; a duty that admits of no substitute; and from the obligation to which there can be no exoneration. But, strange as it may seem, it is a duty which thousands, through ignorance, totally neglect; and others, through carelessness, imperfectly and irregularly perform.” (from the Preface of Richard Treffry’s A Treatise on Secret and Social Prayer; 1842)

What believer can deny the importance of prayer? The Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, used a parable and taught “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Treffry continues, “Even among those who admit its propriety, and allow its necessity, many there are who postpone its performance to what they deem a more convenient opportunity. What unwillingness they evince to enter into their closet; and what reluctance to remain in it! How many excuses are framed for the total omission of this duty! Hence prayer, which is essentially connected with the present well-being, and the future and endless blessedness, of man, is impiously neglected until the approach of the last enemy; and thus, ‘to the mercies of a moment’ are left ‘the vast concerns of an eternal’ state.”

Christian, look around you; we dare not be blind to the fact that our nation and its “blessedness,” its families, its churches, our freedom and our future are facing dire straits. The enemy, like a roaring lion, is seeking to devour all that is good and right. Nor can we be blind to the fact that we, in our own power, have no strength to combat this evil day; this is why we cry out with conscious helplessness to God. He IS our only hope, strength, peace, and stay.

This is why American Decency is gathering on Thursday, May 6 at noon, and inviting all like-minded believers to join us for a season of confession, repentance, and petitioning prayer. We have invited some national and local influential persons to lead in prayer for specific concerns of our nation. Come; join your silent prayers with these (in person or through Facebook live), as we boldly approach the throne of grace in this time of need. (Click here for a list of those who will be joining us and for what they will pray)

Our hope and prayer is that this gathering on Thursday will not stop there; but rather that the Holy Spirit will spur groups of two or three or more to gather regularly in their homes with kindred hearts for continued, fervent, effectual prayer. Our nation, churches, and families are in desperate need of God’s touch! Might this year’s National Day of Prayer induce those who do pray to be more importunate at heaven’s door that the glory of God will be promoted; that the Head of the Church might be magnified by His followers; and that God will forgive our sin, hear our prayers, and heal our land.

We urge you to prepare your heart and mind for joining us in prayer. A good place to start is prayerfully meditating on Isaiah 59. The prophet starts by reminding us that God is sovereign and powerful; yet our sin keeps us from His blessing. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity…”

Think on the whole of this chapter, prepare your heart for prayer, and join us at 203 E. Main Street, Fremont, MI onThursday, May 6, 2021 at noon for a time of petitioning our sovereign, omnipotent God for mercy, help, and strength.  Join us at the American Decency headquarters as we come together in prayer.  If you are unable to join us in person, we will also be live-streaming the event on our Facebook page.

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