May God’s glory spread across U.S.

In 1952 an act of Congress established the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer. Each year, the President also signs a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray for our nation on this day.

Thursday, May 7th is the date of this year’s observance.

Normally, there are thousands of public gatherings across the United States where people will pray for the key spheres of our society including government, business, education, media, the military, churches and families. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, many observances will be conducted online.

In Bonner County, our observance will be livestreamed at noon on the Pray 7B Facebook page and on the pray7b.org website.

Each year the National Day of Prayer Task Force identifies a theme. This year that theme is “Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth” which is taken from Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV): For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

I invite each of you to participate in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 7th. If your schedule permits, join the livestream at noon on the 7B Facebook page or the pray7B.org website.

This nationwide event reminds us of the need for and the importance of prayer for all facets of society. Our nation is in desperate need of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.

As Christians, we all serve in the front lines of God’s army and prayer is one of our primary weapons of warfare.

So, my challenge to you today is, will you pray for our nation – for our churches, government, families, educational institutions, businesses, the military and the media?

I am going to close by praying a portion of the 2020 National Prayer:

We pray that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will spread across our nation and the entire earth as we seek Your Kingdom and righteousness; as we walk in obedience to You, and in humble unity, love one another. Jesus, the Bible says that You are “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.”

We pray that Your grace and glory would spread to bring hope to the hopeless, and love to where there is hurt and hate. God, use us as we pray Your promise, that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Amen!

Jim Kubiak is interim senior pastor for Hidden Valley Worship Center.