Today (May 3) is the National Day of Prayer
From Baptist Press
By Ronnie Floyd
Senior pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas
President of the National Day of Prayer
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer. Many of us pray for America on a regular basis, but each time this year, we are able to join together across the nation and pray together in unity.
Whether you are joining a prayer gathering for the event or praying on your own throughout the year, here are some ways you can pray for America.
1. #PRAY4UNITY in America.
“Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
The present spiritual crisis in America is calling us to pray for and take all necessary actions to come together in our nation. God is the only One who can do this, so we call upon Him to empower us to make every effort to live in unity.
2. #PRAY4UNITY in the church of America.
“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
God is calling His Church in America to unify upon the authority of the Bible and centrality of Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world. We must come together to make Christ known to the world by advancing the Gospel to every person in the world. Ask God for local churches to unify as one body of Christ and walk together in unity, harmony and oneness.
3. #PRAY4UNITY in the families, workplaces, communities and cities in America.
“Also, the power of God was at work in Judah to unite them to carry out the command of the king and his officials by the word of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 30:12).
God’s power upon us is the only source to unite our families, workplaces, communities and cities in America. Ask God to call families, workplaces, communities and cities to look to the only One who can unify us.
4. #PRAY4UNITY among all ethnicities and people in America.
“For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
Since each of us are made in the image of God, we bear His image regardless of the color of our skin or uniqueness of our ethnicity. Through the death of Jesus, He has torn down the wall of division among all people. In God alone, we unify and live in peace with one another, standing against all racial and ethnic division, denouncing it as sin.
5. #PRAY4UNITY for the security of our nation and for our schools, churches, and all public venues.
“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
Ask God to protect our schools, churches and all public venues. Plead with God to restrain all evil and secure our nation from all enemies. Ask God to move upon our government officials to work together to secure our schools, churches and all public venues.
6. #PRAY4UNITY that we agree clearly, unite visibly and pray extraordinarily for the next great spiritual awakening in America.
“They all were continually united in prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Ask God to convict the church of America to wake up spiritually, unite visibly and pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America to occur in our generation and shape the future of America.