Unafraid to talk with others about prayer

Honoring National Day of Prayer: to me, prayer is a moment-to-moment experience of listening to God.

By Marilyn K. Bland

May 7 Has been designated as National Day of Prayer in the United States. This special day is part of a long tradition. The first national prayer day was sponsored by the Continental Congress in 1775. But specific days of prayer date back to the early Puritans. The present observance was established in 1952 by President Truman. In 1988, President Reagan permanently located prayer day on the first Thursday of May (see The Christian Science Monitor, May 4, 1995, "New Revival in National Day of Prayer.")

Various activities are being planned across the nation to celebrate the National Day of Prayer. In religiously pluralistic America, the freedom to pray as one's heart dictates is a very sacred right.

To me, prayer is a moment-to-moment experience of listening to God, rather than an activity set aside only for a designated day. But a National Day of Prayer does focus attention on the importance of devout communion with our creator, and makes me stop and ponder:

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

This question was asked...