National Day of Prayer 2018
Pray for America – UNITY
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:3 NIV)
Since 1952, Christians in America have gathered to pray for our nation on the first Thursday of May each year. We pray alone. We pray as families. As churches. With other churches. Especially, we pray in public places, asking God for His mercy on our land. As we pray publicly, we celebrate another year of freedom to do so in this country we call home. Here are some ideas about how to celebrate this day with your family.
If your children are very young
Consider helping them pray short and simple prayers for the people of America. One child could pray for all the firemen who bravely rescue people and pets from fires. Another could pray for all the doctors and nurses. The list, of course, could go on and on: policemen, teachers, garbage men, tractor-trailer drivers, orphans, homeless, scared people, and all those who don’t know Jesus. If you are in a co-op, you could even have a little preschool prayer meeting with each child holding a picture representing the ones he or she is praying for. Of course, pray for God’s protection over our country and for our President and Congress as well, explaining that these people need God’s wisdom to make good decisions. The unity your children will feel as they ask God for His help for our country will give them a love for unified prayer.
If your children are grade schoolers
If there is to be a public event in your area, you might want to take your children and help them experience the freedom we have to pray out loud in public places. Or, you could organize a time of prayer with their friends, helping them come up with ideas on ways to pray that our country will be unified again, since our theme this year is unity.
If your children are teens
Challenge your teens to participate in a public event or even to create one. They could divide the country up into regions: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, etc. Each teen could pray for a region of the nation. Or, they could pray by category: protection of religious rights… more youth workers dedicated to showing Christ to their generation… justice for those who are trapped in abusive homes… racial harmony… churches that preach God’s Word… the themes are endless.
Whatever you decide to do as a family remember:
- The purpose of the day is to pray. Too often we spend most of our time talking about prayer and very little time actually praying. No matter the age of your children… teach them to pray.
- This year’s focus is on “making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit,” so connect your family with others. Be united in your prayers for this nation. Even if you meet with just one other family, the sense of being a part of something bigger will remind your children of the great joy in unity we have as believers.
- Make sure you go to the National Day of Prayer’s website and download the National Prayer here: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/national-prayer. If your children are old enough, read it aloud together, in unity with Christians across our nation, asking God for His help and protection over America. Impress upon your children that thousands of people of all ages and races across our country are agreeing in prayer, in unity, for God’s blessing for our country. Be amazed at that with them, and be very, very grateful for this right to pray out loud… in public… in this beautiful country. May God hear the cries of His people!
Heavenly Father, thank You for the great gift of freedom we still enjoy in America. Guide us, help us, instruct us as we teach our children how to pray and beseech You for Your help in these difficult days. Lord, hear our prayers and heal our land. We ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
