Christian leaders across the United States took to social media to celebrate National Day of Prayer.
Southern California Pastor Greg Laurie implored Christians to pray for a “spiritual awakening in America.”
2 Chronicles 4:17, Laurie said, gives a “powerful promise that God gave contextually to the nation Israel but, in principle, it applies to any nation, including ours.”
“God says, ‘If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will then hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land,’” he said. “We need our land healed.”
“The Bible says when the godly are ruling, the people rejoice,” the pastor added. “Let’s pray for that.”
Worship leader and activist Sean Feucht shared a video of himself preparing to enter the U.S. Capitol building for prayer.
“Believe with us for God to move in a powerful way as we fill the Capitol complex on the Senate side with worship, prayer, sounds of hope, crying out to God that He’s going to come and move,” Feucht said.
Numerous members of Congress also celebrated National Day of Prayer, encouraging their constituents to pray for the country.
Others, however, condemned the National Day of Prayer.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote, “The National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional and un-American.”
According to the National Day of Prayer website, Conrad Hilton of Hilton Hotels initiated a bill that was introduced by the late Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas (R) in 1952.
The first National Day of Prayer was observed in 1983, after being organized by the National Prayer Committee.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill establishing the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer, on “which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”
President Bill Clinton signed another law in 1998 that read, “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”