National Day of Prayer – 2019
Today is the National Day of Prayer.
Prior to the Nation’s founding, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending “a day of prayer” be observed on July 20, 1775. As declared in the general orders of George Washington:
“The Honorable the Congress having recommended it to the United States to set apart Thursday the 6th of May next to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, to acknowledge the gracious interpositions of Providence; to deprecate [to pray or intreat that a present evil may be removed] deserved punishment for our Sins and Ingratitiude, to unitedly implore the Protection of Heaven; Success to our Arms and the Arms of our Ally: The Commander in Chief enjoins a religious observance of said day and directs the Chaplains to prepare discourses proper for the occasion; strictly forbidding all recreations and unnecessary labor.” April 12, 1779