National Day of Prayer Program 2024

2024 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PRAYER WALK FOR AMERICA

“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God-his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him” (2 Sam 22:29-31)

OPENING REMARKS/PROCLAMATION:

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 111:3).

Franklin Graham states, “It may be said that our nation is in trouble today, probably more than we’ve seen in my lifetime. We are contending with issues that are causing the very foundations of our country to crumble. Yet we are reminded there is no problem too great for our Heavenly Father. Times of distress and uncertainty call for faithful, fervent prayer by God’s people and remind us of our responsibility to humble ourselves before Almighty God.”

Why do we pray to the Lord? Because:

We love Him. If we love God, we will desire to be with Him and to fellowship with Him in proportion to our love for Him.

We depend on Him. He is our source. He is our life (Col 3:4). Through prayer, we receive the comfort, strength, and all the other resources we need in life. Our prayer relationship with God is as necessary to the spiritual life as air is to the natural life.

Prayer allows us to resist temptation. Jesus warned His disciples to “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matt 26:41). Living a life without prayer can leave us weak and exposed, giving an opportunity for the enemy to gain ground and potentially lure us into sin.

Prayer is essential for people to invite God to act in salvation. God gave the earth to Adam and his descendants, so we must invite God to work here. If no one invites Him to work on earth, Satanthe “god of this age” because of humanity’s human rebellion (2 Cor 4:4)- will dominate human affairs, and eventually the judgment of God will come. By inviting God to intercede often and specifically, multitudes can be saved who would otherwise be lost.

God commands us to pray. In Colossians 4:2 Paul writes: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Jesus himself encourages us in Luke 18:1 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

The need to pray as the authority of God. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). Prayer is so vital to all that God wants to do on earth, and it is so essential to us that He commands us to do it all the time. We should even deny ourselves sleep and food at times to pray more and with greater power (Matt 6:16; Luke 6:12, 21:36; Col 4:2; 2 Cor 11:27).

Remarks

by Eva Eckburg Does Prayer

Work?

Christians are using their faithful prayers to combat crime, homelessness, corruption and injustices.

Recently the words, “In God We Trust” were etched back into the new Capitol Visitor Center. And through the efforts of prayer warriors submitting petitions, and the diligent work of the Alliance Defense Fund and Wall Builders, concerted efforts to strip away the faith of this nation have been repeatedly thwarted. Even the National Day of Prayer has persevered despite law suits from non Christian organizations. More than 250,000 people joined together via social networks to pray.

Following a forty-day prayer vigil organized by the Orlando Police Department, a dramatic decrease in crime was reported. “We want to come to the street and bring the love and compassion of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the community,” states Chaplain Angel Torres.

A nation can be punished by the actions of its leaders (2 Sam 24), and a nation can be punished with poor leaders because the hearts of the people are evil (2 Kgs 17: 1-23). In the same way, a nation can be blessed with good leadership because the people honor God (Prov 8:14-20). We can honor the structure of leadership that God has ordained (Ex 18:21; Deut 17:14-20), and we can do this even if we do not agree with all the decisions those in authority are making; that’s all the more reason to pray!

When we begin to trust God once again and turn from our sin, He comes into our lives to begin a new relationship of love with us. God is in every true Christian (Rom 8:9,10; John 14:23; Rev 3:20; 2 Cor 13:5). Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognize His presence with us, to talk with Him, to listen to Him and sense Him. We express our thanks, our faith, our love, and our hopes with God in prayer. From Him we receive peace, answers, assurance, guidance, strength, power, and revelation of who He is and what He wants to do.

PROCLAMATION

Heavenly Father, In the authority of Jesus Name, we come before the throne of God to make this proclamation for the United States of America. Blessed be the name of the Lord forever and ever. He created the heavens and the earth; the seas and the sky land; the sun, moon, and stars as well as time and seasons. He removes and replaces presidents and kings alike. He brings the counsel of nations to nothing and the plans of the ungodly to no effect. Let America stand in fear and awe of the living God. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord! Let the righteous of the living God return to America. Let light conquer darkness and faith conquer fear. May we boldly stand for a nation whose motto is “In God We Trust.” Amen

“This Little Light of Mine”: Sung by the children from FPC Children’s Center

PRAYER LEADER 1: PRAYING FOR THE FAMILY

Pray for unity and love in individual families that reach out in hospitality toward others (Rom 12:9-13).

Establish healthy relationships between parents and children (Mal 4:5-6).

Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask for your hedge of protection over our families. Let no trouble fall on them today. Keep them away from physical harm and allow no evil to influence their hearts. Cover them with the precious blood of Christ. Protect those we love, Lord God. Take charge of them so that they do not strike their foot against the stone. Lift us up when we are down and renew our strength so we may soar on wings like eagles. Thank you for always raising us up with your almighty hands. In our times of trouble, we look to you. Life can hand us many different challenges that we know we cannot face on our own. But with you, O God, nothing is impossible. May we always preserve the bond that we have as a family. Guard our home as a sanctuary of blessing, comfort, and love that is centered on you alone. Amen

In this powerful spirit of unity, we begin this walk to Travis Park and to our city’s Main Plaza. Please walk in twos, and continue to pray as you are led. Please feel free to ride the shuttle at any time you would like. There are snacks and water available, free of charge, in the vans and at Travis Park. Let’s begin.

TRAVIS PARK SCRIPTURES & PRAYERS

PRAYER LEADER 2: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

Today, the Church appears to be relegated to the sidelines, considered irrelevant and out of touch. But God has a different perspective on what His people are to be and how we function. In Ephesians 3:10, the Apostle Paul writes, “God’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be known …”

Though seemingly powerless in the eyes of the world, the Churchthrough prayerful, righteous individuals and the power of the Holy Spirit-releases the wisdom of God into any and every culture. The church must experience a revival that awakens her to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ in her midst. Such a spiritual awakening within the people of God has the power to bring about true cultural transformation in this nation.

Colossians 2:6-8 encourages us with these words: “ …So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live with Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than Christ.”

Heavenly Father,

We live in a world that is often very dark, and in times that we know the end is drawing nearer, may we be found faithfully and prayerfully lifting one another’s burdens until Christ’s return. We know many fellow Christians are being persecuted daily, around the world, for their beliefs.

Open our eyes to see the hope to which we are called (Eph 1:18). Help us, through the Holy Spirit, experience in a fresh new way the presence of Christ in revival. Encourage believers and empower them to have faith that their voices and votes will make a difference. May we be bold in our witness as we give testimony to your presence in our lives. May there be a spirit of repentance and humility poured out upon all the people of God. We thank you, O Lord for loving us and bearing us up with gentleness and patience. In all things may you receive glory. Amen

PRAYER LEADER 3: PRAYING ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE SURROUNDING THE ELECTIONS

Nothing is achieved in the Kingdom of God without warfare. That includes the election of righteous individuals to the leadership of one of the key nations on the planet. As we pray, we must expect the enemy to attack in many ways. There will be attacks on candidates and their families, on the media, the Church, and perhaps the nation itself. Some will be clearly spiritual, while other attacks may have physical manifestations. Our call is to have great discernment as we pray and stand in the strength of Christ’s victory.

O Lord our God,

We come before you as a praying people who need great discernment and awareness as we pray for the upcoming elections and how the results will affect us as individuals, families and community. Lord, place a strong hedge around the family unit as we struggle with abortion, gender, and school issues that are clearly against your Word. As a community that loves you, O Lord, may we be embolden in our witnessing of your love, mercy, power and glory. May we not be afraid to speak out with the help of the Holy Spirit. Unleash the sword of the Spirit throughout the nation, judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Amen

Spiritual and moral issues facing this nation will not be resolved in the White House, Congress, or the Supreme Court. What the United States desperately needs is another Great Awakening. But we pray for the elections for a number of compelling reasons:

First, the Bible commands us to pray for those in leadership (1Tim 2:1-4). This includes those who are vying to become leaders.

Second, According to the Scripture, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov 14:34). The selection of leaders who understand and lead according to God’s righteous standards can bring great blessings to a nation.

Third, godly leaders can help slow the erosion of religious liberties in our land. This can provide an increased window of opportunity for the church to pray and evangelize.

Proverbs 11:14 states, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure.” The determination of who leads our nation will also determine who advises that leader and how we are guided.

Father God,

We are in the midst of an election cycle right now. The decisions being made by candidates and potential candidates are critical and Father, we ask for your guidance and know that you have the ultimate plan for us. May our eyes be open to personal motivations and agendas that are not in accordance to your Word. America has been a representative government for over 200 years which has depended upon voter involvement. From the beginning of our nation, there has been a debate on who should be allowed the privilege to select our governmental leaders. This requires an educated electorate who will examine the issues and candidates and vote in a way that is best for the nation, not just their own well-being. May the critical voter process be free and clear of fraud and may self –interest be laid aside for the common good. May those who choose to try for public office take a brave stand for righteousness, even when it is not well received. May the families of the candidates be protected from harm and unnecessary scrutiny. May the candidates be surrounded with godly advisors so they may focus on issues we face as a nation and not on personal attacks on other candidates. Lord, hear our prayer. Amen

PRAYER LEADER 5: PRAYING FOR THE MEDIA

In our 24-hour news coverage, the media have taken on a huge role in our lives and election process. Handling media correctly sometimes seems to take precedence in a campaign over actually dealing with important issues facing our nation. The media themselves often forget their role of informing and reporting and have become endorsers and supporters, even while they try to deny that role. Increased prayer for the media is essential for Christians to impact the election.

Pray that Christians in the media find favor and be filled with creative ideas that bring kingdom principles and life-giving messages to the public (Prov 2:1-15; Eph 4:29; Matt 12:36-37).

Heavenly Father,

We come before you with a desire for truth to be the priority in our government and the upcoming election. Our forefathers fought for equality and fairness for all members of society. May we see hope as part of the media message. We pray that all media bias will disappear and we pray that you will enable Christian followers to offer your truth to overcome lies, light to shine in dark places, refreshment to those who are thirsty and food to those who are hungry. We ask you to guide them to bring truth, knowledge, wisdom, insight and discernment into our personal lives and national life. Guard them against any who wish to use them for ill and empower them by your Spirit to stand up for what is righteous.

Father, forgive us as we acknowledge there is a battle for our hearts, minds, and souls. While it is easy to make the media world our scapegoat for the destruction of godly values, morality, and decency in our nation, the truth is we have blindly allowed television, video games, iPhones and other media to become the nanny for our children. We too often watch movies we know have content we shouldn’t watch. Our choices don’t reflect our love for you and your principles. Lord, help us to make a stand for what is right and repent of our sins. Amen

PRAYER LEADER 6: PRAYING ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR MILITARY/OTHER NATIONS

In this rapidly shrinking world, what happens in our country has an effect on others. The individuals who hold the presidency, senate and congressional seats will make decisions impacting the rest of the world. Whether those decisions help or harm the people of the world is largely determined by the choices that Americans make at the polls. We need to pray that our choices will serve to bless the world.

As we continue to position our military around the world, 2 Chronicles 32:6-8 states, “He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them … and encouraged them with these words, ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because the King of Assyria and the vast army with them. With him only is the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles…”

Merciful Father,

As we approach the election ballot, may we consider the foreign policies of candidates and how they fit with biblical principles. Help the U.S. stand firm with Israel’s right to exist as a nation. May the activities of other nations not have undue influence on our elections. May the election be fair and the results serve to spread the gospel around the globe.

Protect our military members and their families as we continue to be spread all over the world. May they remain strong and not battle fatigued; may they persevere to endure hardship. Give them wise leaders who inspire respect from those under their command. Protect and support the families left behind and undergird those with battle injuries. Comfort those who endured severe trauma as you only can heal their minds, body and souls. Amen

PRAYER LEADER 7: PRAYING FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOD

Ultimately, whatever the area of prayer emphasis, we must always come back to the purposes of God. Jesus taught us to pray, “… your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). As we pray for something as important as national elections, we must lay down our own desires and take up the desires of God. What we really desire is for the Lord’s purposes to be achieved in and through our nation. All of our requests must be couched in words and thoughts that focus our hearts on the Kingdom of God.”

Heavenly Father,

We humbly pray that our nation will turn to you as we seek the Kingdom of God. May you, O Lord, be honored in the midst of our lives, our families, our community activities and our government processes. We pray for opportunities to share our faith and values in the midst of our upcoming election. May the results of the elections please you and may you release your blessings over this nation. Amen (Note Romans 13, Proverbs 8:15, 21:1 and Daniel 4:25)

PLEASE JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER - IN UNISON

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen

Now we will proceed to Main Plaza together. Please walk with a prayer partner and continue to intercede for our nation. The shuttle vans are available for all who need to ride.

Now, May the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Amen