According to his grandson, if Billy Graham was asked about the three most critical components that contributed to the success of his evangelistic crusades, he would say prayer, prayer and prayer.
Today, the first Thursday in May, is the National Day of prayer. Across the nation, people are coming together in large and small gatherings to pray for America. Our nation, while not founded as a theocracy, was established by men who loved God. Our nation began in the spirit of understanding and acknowledgment of our dependence on Almighty God.
A listing of calls to prayer throughout our nation’s history can be found at www.nationaldayofprayer.org. Here is a sampling:
At the Constitutional Convention, 1787, Ben Franklin stated: “In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection.”
Congress proclaimed the first National Day of Prayer…In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the long, weary Revolutionary War during which a National Day of Prayer had been proclaimed every spring for eight years.”
The same week Congress passed the Bill of Rights, President George Washington declared, October 3, 1789: “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will…and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness’…”
In 1952, President Truman made the National Day of Prayer an annual observance, stating:“ In times of national crisis when we are striving to strengthen the foundations of peace…we stand in special need of Divine support.”
The words of Franklin Graham address our current time.
“It is a crucial time for us to individually and collectively seek God’s divine intervention for the challenges facing us. Pray that as a nation we would return to God. As we call on God, let us do so by genuine faith, believing that He hears our prayers. God can heal this great land, for which our forefathers fought and died. We need spiritual renewal, we need a revival in America, and we need each and everyone to pray. Lord, Hear Our Cry!” —Franklin Graham
As a nation, we face many challenges. God still reigns, and He still hears prayer. Pray for His protection on our country. Pray for our leaders to have divine wisdom. May each of us turn to God in humility and seek His will. Pray for America on this National Day of Prayer, and every other day as well.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . . Psalm 33:12
Will you commit to pray for America? Please leave a comment below.
Blessings,
Phyllis
© 2026 Phyllis Farringer
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Amen and amen!
Thank you Phyllis.
Thank you, Nora.
Thank you for the post, Phyllis. It actually reminds me that I need to pray for all of us every day.
Thank you, Joni. Prayer is powerful.