Day of Prayer

Amid clouds of uncertainty fostered by the ruling of a Federal judge in Wisconsin last month, the National Day of Prayer is proclaimed on this first Thursday of May by President Obama again this year, as it has been since 1988. Actually, President Harry S. Truman first designated such a Day in 1952. Regardless of how political leaders, jurists and media pundits sharpen their barbs on this matter, Christian congregations rely completely on prayer. Our witness and evangelism in society, our humanitarian service, our worship and educational ministries are all founded on diligent and faithful prayer to a loving and mighty God. An esteemed Methodist preacher of a previous generation, E.M. Bounds, is credited with observing: “Prayer is not preparation for the battle. Prayer is the battle!” In our churches, no doubt every day is a day of prayer. But perhaps we need special days of prayer just the same.

And it occurs to me that God is not just listening to those who regularly dial the heavenly number. There are plenty of "pray-ers" who aren't church-goers in any formal sense. During Christ's ministry, there were folks who appealed to him for help who were not part of the ordinary religious circles. And he not only listened to their concerns, he responded to them. Notably, one of the men who died with him cried out to him. Jesus replied, in a voice that surely must have been barely audible, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

Political views on the matter of official public prayer aside, there are times when we all -- or at least virtually all -- call out to God. Surely it is one of the most amazing things about God that God hears it all.