National day of prayer: Colbert edition
24 02 2009The national day of prayer happens every year, this year it is May 7, and invites people of all faiths to pray for our nation. Their website says that the day “exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families.” I remember a couple of years ago when Bono from U2 was invited to be the guest speaker and he took everyone to task for not practicing what they preach. I absolutely believe in the power of prayer and think that we need to be more conscious of who and what we are praying for.
Last night my wife and I were watching the Colbert Report and there was this bit about the Master Media International prayer calendar. Apparently they have a day by day list of celebrities and media moguls that we need to be praying for and yesterdays celebrity was Stephen Colbert. The following clip is his response to his national day of prayer:
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In the midst of making fun of the situation, Colbert points out one of the biggest pit-falls of prayer: selfish demands. Yes we are supposed to ask God for help and provision in our lives but at what point does it become silly? Prayer is a two way street in which we must be open and listening for what God wants from us. What is the point of asking a question if you are not ready to receive an answer or guidance? We should not just pray for what we want but that we may be involved in what God wants.
May 7th is The National Day of Prayer. It’s not just one day of prayer in 365. The day serves to highlight the need for intercessory prayer every day for our nation’s leaders and their families. Too often Americans whine about change for our nation yet are unwilling to bring the most powerful tool they process into action – prayer. These are not selfish prayers but prayers that our leaders and their families are blessed and guided by our Lord.
We have seen many examples (in newspaper and Internet article headlines) of the transforming power of corporate prayer. Communities have dramatically lowered crime, suicide, unemployment and drug usage in examples where only prayer could be pointed to as the agent of change.
Millions of Americans now participate in the National Day of Prayer each year (1st Thursday in May). Last May 1st, tens of thousands of prayer gatherings were held, covering every state. “Day of Prayer” declarations were made from the President of the United States and all 50 governors. Prayer observances were held in 110 federal prisons, YMCAs, national monuments, Indian reservations, military bases, stadiums, nursing homes, airliners crossing our nation, schools, town halls, in the Senate and Congressional chambers of many state capitols, and overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to these public activities, people gathered to pray in their homes, churches, and other private places. PrayerFlight, a group of Ohio-based private pilots, organized “50 Capitols” where pilots and their passengers prayed as they flew over each respective capitol. They will fly again this year.
You can find info on events, resources and prayer at http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
hey Brian, thanks for the information and response. I was just wondering if you had any examples of your statement:
“We have seen many examples (in newspaper and Internet article headlines) of the transforming power of corporate prayer. Communities have dramatically lowered crime, suicide, unemployment and drug usage in examples where only prayer could be pointed to as the agent of change.
I would love to hear about these as well as see how prayer was the only agent of change in these communities. Thanks for the participation.