WHY NDP
National Day of Prayer - a Perspective.
Observing a day of prayer seems a good thing to do but you may ask, why? The power of prayer has touched many lives of people in Utah and our local communities. Some of us have knowingly benefitted from our own prayers or the prayer of loved ones or friends. Still others have benefitted or been blessed without knowledge of why, how or even who blessed them.
Locally one celebration of prayer took place on May 4th at the LDS Tabernacle at 7 PM and participants will come from several religious faith groups. Their work to bring this multi-faith endeavor to reality is an admirable cooperative venture. Nationally a Day of Prayer will happen on May 5th at thousands of gatherings across the country.
There is no religious denomination that lays exclusive claim to the practice of prayer or blessings. Prayer is accomplished in a variety of forms each seeks to communicate with a Higher Power.
Although there is a rise in the number of people who claim no affiliation with an organized religion there is reason to believe that a good number of them still exercise their right to pray. Prayer is also a malleable commodity in that it takes many forms, some are very structured and rigid while others are more spontaneous and free flowing. The object of prayer can be for many different things from a better grade in a school subject to a desperate plea for help in a life or death situation. Some prayer is even given for help with a deadly, evil and destructive undertaking. Which begs the question – why have a day of prayer?
Chris Battrick of Pleasant View gives this response – “We live in an unprecedented time with new difficulties and unique challenges, yet those who would seek for wisdom and peace are also presented with great opportunity.” – “-nothing can help us draw nearer to one another, assist us in overcoming our challenges, and helping us find novel solutions to the world’s problems both abroad and at home than the uniting appeal to the Father of us all for the blessings of heaven through mighty prayer.”
Pastor Dave Duncan of Valley View Baptist in North Ogden provides us with the wisdom of decades in the ministry and does so with an economy of words – “ We need God in our Lives; Prayer helps us to grow spiritually; Prayer changes circumstances; Prayers are answered.” And perhaps the most compelling reason – “The Lord told us to pray; pray without ceasing.”
Dr. Paul Mackley, Coldwater Stake President in North Ogden and a leader in the community sees many reasons for a Day of Prayer. “A cursory glance at today’s headlines paints a disturbing picture of where we are headed as a nation unless collectively we turn our face back to God. Governmentally, I believe we are in a constitutional crisis. Morally, there is no doubt that we are in a complete free-fall.”
“Prayer is a fundamental form of private and public worship which crosses all ethnic, cultural, and faith backgrounds. The Founding Fathers of this nation knew that Religion and Morality are pillars of a free society and essential to the preservation of our constitution which protects both religious and civil Liberties.”
While it is true that we each must find our own reasons to pray it is imperative that we do the homework and search our conscience to find that for which we give thanks. Life’s tragedies will find us and should not find us without prayer for it is said that there are no atheists in foxholes; we should have some experience with prayer before the need becomes unbearable.
This year the National Day of Prayer organization cites Isaiah 58.1 as inspiration – “Shout it aloud, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet.” You can, if so motivated, offer a prayer right now - whether silently or shouted from the rooftop or texted to a friend. And, wouldn’t we be better off if we devoted less time to social media and more time to prayer? Pastor Duncan has sound advice when he says – “We need God in our lives.” If we pray, He will listen.
