For Such a Time as This

Today is the National Day of Prayer. The first Thursday in May is set aside every year to remember this important event. Throughout the history of America there have been presidents calling on special days for a national day of prayer. George Washington called for a national day of prayer. Abraham Lincoln called for a national day for prayer and fasting during the Civil War. President Truman called for a special day designated as a day of prayer in 1952. In 1988, President Reagan signed a bill into law designating the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer. The theme of this year's National Day of Prayer is "For Such a Time as This." There couldn't be any statement more true than that. If there's ever been a need for America to set aside a day to pray, it's right this very moment. Of course, we shouldn't limit praying just for one day but there are times when we need to set aside time for prayer. Today is one of those days. There's never been a need for prayer in our country like the year 2010. Never have we faced the type of problems like we do today. It's tragic that a federal judge from Wisconsin declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. Our nation was built on prayer. America was built on the Bible. However, regardless of what the secularist judges in America say, we can still pray regardless. But I'm thankful as of right now we as a country can set aside a day where it's just devoted to prayer.

There are several things we as a people in this country need to pray for. What are some of the important issues in our country that we need to pray for?

1. We need to prayer for our nation's leaders. We need to pray for our elected officials in Washington, D.C., our state officials, and our local officials. Those of us that are conservative and believe in Biblical values are definitely opposed to President Obama and the Democrats' policies in Washington. I believe our leaders in Washington today are doing everything in their power to destroy America's foundations. In the midst of all the negative changes that are taking place in our country, we need to recognize it's not a Democrat/Republican or liberal/conservative issue. Both parties have been taking us down the wrong path for the last 21 years. We've had Democrats and Republicans both hold leadership positions in Congress and in the White House. Our country has progressively went down the wrong path with presidents of both parties. America's answer is not in a Republican president or a Republican Congress. It's in the Lord. Both parties are intentionally taking American down the wrong path. Jesus is coming back. All the events of the world are paving away for the revealing of the antichrist and the coming of our Lord. We should pray for our leaders, but we shouldn't expect them to turn our country around. That's not going to happen. We should pray for the safety of our country and the peace of Jerusalem.

2. We should pray for our churches. Throughout the history of the church, the Devil has always launched an attack on the church. He's tried to do it from within and from without. Our churches are under attack today. Those that are preaching the truth and aren't compromising are facing an onslaught of attacks from Satan. Satan hates the church. He wants to see the church defeated. We need to pray for God to place his protective hand on the church. We need to pray for the pastors of the churches and those that sit on the pews. Satan's trying to destroy the church. There's all kinds of sin and worldliness that's crept into our churches. Satan's using the things of the world to lure our young people away from the church. Matthew 16:18 says the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against the church.

3. We need to pray for our families. There are many families in this nation that are struggling financially, spiritually, emotionally, etc. Satan has been launching an attack on the families of this nation. Many of our homes today have dual income earners with children in daycare. Many couples have marital issues as well. We need to pray for our families. Many families are wandering to and fro in this society going from one job to another or from one event to another. The are many homes that have been split up by divorce. There are numerous couples cohabitating together without the benefit of marriage. We need to pray for the restoration of the family unit.

4. Pray for our youth. We need to pray for the youth of America. Many young people face peer pressure in the public schools. There's pressure to participate in drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, etc. Our young people are facing great pressures today. The Devil is out for the hearts and minds of our young people. We need to pray for God's hedge of protection around them. We need to pray for their salvation. The youth are the future in America. We need to be serious about the plight of the youth in this country.

5. Pray for those that are troubled. There are people in this country whose lives are troubled. There are numerous people that need the saving grace of God in their lives. Many people in America don't know God. Many American are acquinted with religion, but they don't know the God of the Bible. We need to pray for their salvation as well as the problems everyday Americans face on daily basis.

Today there are numerous events taking place to commemorate the National Day of Prayer. Where I live they're having selected scriptures read at the courthouse for an hour until the entire Bible is read. Also there will be prayer at the courthouse as well. Never has there ever been "such a time as this" that we needed to pray. We're facing nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran, we have major issues with illegal immigration in America. We're also on the threshold of bankruptcy in America. The debt is over $13 trillion dollars. The world's economy is being held by a thread. This all tells us that Jesus is coming back soon. We need to be prepared for His coming. I will end with the scripture from II Chronicles 7:14. We need to repent of our sins and turn to God. That's our only hope. America needs Jesus. Never has America needed God more than "for such a time as this." "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."