Many of you, I'm sure, are confused about the underlying philosophy of prayer. Consequently, often your prayers are not answered. Here, I attempt to provide some insights into the success of prayers.
Why We Pray
To begin with, we must understand as to why do we pray? There are basically 12 reasons for prayer:
- We pray to depend on God for help in distress.
- We pray for asking God for enlightenment.
- We pray for communion with God through single-minded devotion.
- We pray for asking for peace from God when the mind is restless.
- We pray for surrendering ourselves to God completely.
- We pray to God for giving us the ability to comfort others.
- We pray for thanking God for his blessings.
- We pray for expecting God to decide what is best for us when we are in a dilemma.
- We pray for making friendship with God.
- We pray for melting the mind and ego in silence in God.
- We pray for requesting God to give strength, peace and pure intellect.
- We pray for asking God to purify the heart and make us abide in Him forever.
Two Parts of a Prayer
In essence, what the above 12 reasons convey to us is that a prayer has two parts: one is soliciting a favor from the Almighty and the other is surrendering ourselves to His will. While the first part is practiced by most of us on a daily basis, the second part is the real and ultimate goal because it implies dedication. Dedication means feeling the light of God within your heart. If your heart is devoid of divine light, you will not be happy, cheerful and successful in your lives.
Guard Your Selfish Desires
Remember, your success depends on the inward state of your mind. Your mind will create hindrance in your work if it is not in communion with God because He alone is the permanent abode of peace. Yes, I agree that most of us want to have riches, healthy lives, nice children and prosperous future. But if we always approached God with a begging attitude then we are treating Him as our bearer to supply the things required by us at once. This is no devotion to God but devotion to our own selfish desires.
Lord Murugan Day In A Week
The scriptures indicate that there are seven techniques of successful prayer:
- When you pray just talk to God as a little boy would to a father or mother whom he loves and with whom he feels in harmony. Tell Him everything that is on your mind and in your heart.
- Talk to God in simple everyday speech. He understands every language. It is not necessary to use an exaggerated formal speech. You would not talk to your father or mother that way, would you? God is your heavenly father (or mother). Why should you be formal to Him or Her? This will make your relationship with Him more natural.
- Tell God what you want. You might as well be factual. You want something. Tell Him about it. Tell Him you would like to have it if He thinks it is good for you. But also say and mean it that you will leave it to Him to decide and you will accept His decision as best for you. If you do this regularly it will bring to you what you ought to have, and thus fulfill your own destiny. It will be possible for God to give you things that you should have wonderful things. It is really unfortunate, the marvelous things we miss, things God wants to give us and cannot because we insist upon something else, something only a fraction as fine as He wants to give us.
- Practice praying as many times during the day as possible. For example, when you are driving your car, instead of the aimless thoughts that go through your mind, talk to God as you drive. If you have a companion in the front seat, you would talk to him or her. Would you not? Then, imagine the Lord is there and, in fact, He is, so just talk to Him about everything. If you are waiting for the subway train or bus, have a little chat with Him. Most importantly say a little prayer before you go to bed. If it is not possible, get into bed, relax and then pray. God will lull you to a wonderful carefree sleep.
- It is not always necessary to say words when you pray. Spend a few moments just thinking about Him. Think how good He is, how kind He is and that He is right by your side guiding and watching over you.
- Don't always pray for yourself. Try helping others by your prayers. Pray for those who are in trouble or are ill. Whether they are your loved ones or your friends or neighbors, your prayer will profoundly affect them. And..
- Last but not the least, whatever you do, do not make all prayers into the form of begging God for something. The prayer for thanksgiving is much more powerful. Make your prayer consisting of a listing of all the fine things you possess or all the wonderful things that have happened to you. Name them over, thank God for them and make that your whole prayer. You will find that these prayers of thanksgiving grow.
Finally, please do not pray to God to run after you to satisfy your selfish desires. You are supposed to do your work as efficiently and skillfully as possible. With faith in God and using the above techniques of prayer, you will have success in every walk of life.
National Day of Prayer | |
---|---|
Observed by | United States |
Date | First Thursday in May |
2018 date | May 3 |
2019 date | May 2 |
2020 date | May 7 |
2021 date | May 6 |
Frequency | annual |
Related to | Day of Prayer |
The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked 'to turn to God in prayer and meditation'. The president is required by law (36 U.S.C.§ 119) to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.[1][2]
The modern law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952, although earlier days of fasting and prayer had been established by the Second Continental Congress from 1775 until 1783, and by President John Adams in 1798 and 1799.[3][4]Thomas Jefferson established a day of prayer and thanksgiving, but this occurred while he served as governor of Virginia.[5]
The constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer was unsuccessfully challenged in court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation after their first attempt was unanimously dismissed by a federal appellate court in April 2011.[6][7]
History[edit]
The National Day of Prayer shares common roots with the celebration of Thanksgiving; both were national proclamations establishing a day of prayer. In the New England Colonies under British rule, traditional observances in late fall called for prayer and thanksgiving, while observances in the spring or summer called for prayer and fasting.[8] The fall observance was established by President Abraham Lincoln as the official Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. The spring observance was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 as the National Day of Prayer.
Residents of Kentwood, Louisiana, gather outside the Town Hall alongside LA 38 to observe 2015's National Day of Prayer.
Friction in 1768–1776 between the American colonists and England spurred some American cities and colonies to proclaim days of prayer. For instance, Boston declared a day of fasting and prayer in September 1768, as a protest against a British plan to station troops in the city. The Colony of Virginia's House of Burgesses established a day of fasting and prayer to take place on Wednesday, June 1, 1774, to protest the Boston Port Act, such that the people of Virginia would assemble for prayer led by clergymen.[8]Thomas Jefferson wrote that 'the effect of the day through the whole colony was like a shock of electricity,' moving the Virginians to choose delegates to establish self-rule.[9] The Provinces of South Carolina, Maryland and Georgia all observed official days of fasting and prayer during 1774–1775.[8]
The observance of a day of fasting and prayer was brought to all of the colonists by the Continental Congress in 1775.[8] Congress issued a proclamation recommending 'a day of publick [sic] humiliation, fasting, and prayer' be observed by the 'English Colonies' on Thursday, July 20, 1775, 'and to bless our rightful sovereign, King George the Third..'[10] The text, written by John Witherspoon and John Hancock, instructed the colonists to pray for a resumption of 'the just rights and privileges of the Colonies' in 'civil and religious' matters.[11] A proclamation to this end was sent to every town in the colonies. John Adams wrote that the popular response was gratifying, that the special day was more widely observed than the practice of going to church on Sunday.[12] After this success, Congress determined to call for a day of fasting and prayer each spring, and a day of thanksgiving and praise each fall.[8]
In his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington acknowledged a day of 'fasting, humiliation and prayer' proclaimed by the Continental Congress to be held on Thursday, May 6, 1779. To enable his soldiers to observe the day, Washington ordered a one-day cessation of recreation and 'unnecessary labor'.[13] In March 1780, Congress announced a day of 'fasting, humiliation and prayer' to be held on Wednesday, April 26, 1780.[14]
The practice of calling for national days of fasting and prayer was abandoned from 1784 until 1789, even though thanksgiving days were observed each fall.[15] On October 3, 1789, President Washington called for a national day of prayer and thanksgiving to be observed on Thursday, November 26, 1789; this was an extension of the tradition of thanksgiving which was already customary in New England.[16][17] President Adams continued the practice of proclaiming national days of prayer in the spring and fall,[18] but President Jefferson did not, as he considered prayer to be a matter for personal rather than state involvement.[19][20]
After James Madison, none of the next eleven presidents issued prayer proclamations.[21] Thus, there was a period of 47 years, from 1815 to 1862, with no presidential prayer proclamations.[22]
In January–February 1952 during the Korean War, the desirability of a united national prayer was stated by Reverend Billy Graham, who said, 'What a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before Almighty God in prayer. What a thrill would sweep this country. What renewed hope and courage would grip the Americans at this hour of peril.' Representative Percy Priest from Tennessee observed that Graham had issued a challenge for a national day of prayer.[23] Members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual 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.'[24] On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each subsequent president at an appropriate date of his choice.[16]
In 1982 a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the 'National Prayer Committee' was formed to coordinate and implement a fixed annual day of prayer for the purpose of organizing evangelical Christian prayer events with local, state, and federal government entities.[25]The Thanks-Giving Foundation also collaborated in this effort.[26] In his 1983 declaration, Ronald Reagan said, 'From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future.'[27]
Rca rd2780 manual pdf. The device is about the sizeof a small picture frame and features a large LCDScreen, the Lyra A/V also acts as a computer storagedevice, is compatible with multiple audio and videocodecs, and can be easily connected to most standardtelevision sets for analog playback. With the built-in,separate audio and video recording modes, recordingon the device is quick and easy. The palm-sized 20GB Lyra Audio/VideoJukebox is a world full of entertainment at one'sfingertips - enabling movie and music buffs to easilytransport hours worth of their favorite contentin their coat pocket. The display screencan also be used to organize digital audio musicfiles or other types of stored data, including computerfiles such as word processing documents and presentations.The Lyra A/V Jukebox can also be a portable pocketphoto album, since JPEG images can be viewed byeither transferring them directly from the PC usinga USB 2.0 High Speed connection or by insertinga compact flash memory card. Enjoy up to80 hours of pre-recorded television shows, featurefilms or home videos directly on the LCD screen.Easily connect the device to a television set viaan analog composite video output.
Sailors bow their heads in prayer during the National Day of Prayer. May 3, 2007.
In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world.[27]
Republican Ronald Reagan administration and George H. W. Bush administration (1981–1993) each hosted special National Day of Prayer events held at the White House only once during their administrations.[citation needed] Democrat Bill Clinton administration (1993–2001) did not hold any such events during his time in office, though he issued proclamations annually.[citation needed]
Republican George W. Bush administration (2001–2009) made his first presidential act be the announcement of a National Day of Prayer,[28] and he held events at the White House in each year of his presidency.[citation needed]
Democrat Barack Obama (2009–2017) did not hold any public events at the White House,[29] though he issued presidential proclamations regularly each year.[30][31]
Republican President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended church services in observation of a special National Day of Prayer, which Trump previously declared, in support of the victims of Hurricane Harvey dwelling in the state of Texas, to 'uplift one another and assist those suffering from the consequences of this terrible storm.'[32][33]
Observance[edit]
The National Day of Prayer is celebrated by Americans of many religions, including Christians of many denominations, including Protestants and Catholics, as well as Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews,[34][35] reflecting the demographics of the United States.[36] On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples.[37] Luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for the nation are also popular observances.[38] Traditionally, the President of the United States issues an official National Day of Prayer proclamation each year as well.[39]
Legal challenge[edit]
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sued to challenge the designation of a National Day of Prayer. On October 3, 2008, the Wisconsin-based organization filed suit in the federal district court for western Wisconsin in Madison, naming as defendants President George W. Bush; White House press secretary Dana Perino; Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle; and evangelist James Dobson's wife, Shirley Dobson, in her capacity as chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.[40] The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) provided defense for Shirley Dobson while government lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb to dismiss the case, arguing principally that the group has no legal standing to sue.[41]
On March 1, 2010 U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb stated that FFRF's lawsuit could proceed because the plaintiffs had shown that they suffered 'concrete injury' that can potentially be remedied by judicial action. Judge Crabb stated about those supporting the federal law designating the National Day of Prayer, 'adopting [the] defendants' view of standing would allow the government to have unrestrained authority to demean members of any religious group without legal consequence. The federal government could declare the 'National Day of Anti-Semitism' or even declare Christianity the official religion of the United States, but no one would have standing to sue because no one would have to 'pass by' those declarations.'[42] On April 15, 2010, Judge Crabb ruled that the statute establishing the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional as it is 'an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function.'[43][44] However, Crabb stayed her ruling pending the completion of appeals.[45]
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice to appeal the ruling on April 22, 2010,[46] and on April 14, 2011 a three judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overturned Crabb's decision. The panel ruled that FFRF did not have standing to sue because the National Day of Prayer had not caused them harm and stated that 'a feeling of alienation cannot suffice as injury.' The court further stated that 'the President is free to make appeals to the public based on many kinds of grounds, including political and religious, and that such requests do not obligate citizens to comply and do not encroach on citizens' rights.' The federal appeals court also cited Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, which referenced God seven times and prayer three times.[47]
See also[edit]
- Great Prayer Day, a public holiday in Denmark introduced in 1686 in the wake of the Reformation of the national church
References[edit]
- ^'36 U.S.C. § 119 : US Code – Section 119: National Day of Prayer'.
- ^'History of the National Day of Prayer'. Nationaldayofprayer.org. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^Adams, John (March 6, 1799). 'Proclamation – Recommending a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer'. The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^Adams, John (March 31, 1798). 'By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation'. The Weekly Magazine. 1 (9): 287. John Adams' signed the proclamation on March 3, 1798, with the day of prayer to take place on May 9, 1798.
- ^'Proclamation Appointing a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, 11 November 1779', Virginia Gazette, website=Founders Online, November 20, 1779. Retrieved on May 9, 2016.
- ^Legal challenge to National Day of Prayer thrown out, The Christian Science Monitor
- ^Court Dismisses Challenge to National Day of Prayer, USA Today
- ^ abcdeDavis, Derek H. (2000). Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789: Contributions to Original Intent. Oxford University Press. pp. 83–84. ISBN9780195350883.
- ^Jefferson, Thomas (1970). Jefferson Himself: The Personal Narrative of a Many-Sided American. University of Virginia Press. p. 50. ISBN9780813903101. Jefferson is quoted by Derek H. Davis in Religion and the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, page 84.
- ^Bouton, Nathaniel (June 12, 1775). Provincial and State Papers. p. 545. 'Proclamation for a day of Fasting and Prayer'
- ^Davis 2000, p. 85.
- ^Davis 2000, p. 86.
- ^The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. 14. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1779. p. 369.
- ^Pennsylvania Archives. Google Books. 1853. p. 131. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^Davis 2000, pp. 88–89.
- ^ abDavis 2000, p. 90.
- ^Grizzard, Frank E. (2002). George Washington: A Biographical Companion. ABC-CLIO. p. 385. ISBN9781576070826. 'Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation'.
- ^Butler, Jon; Wacker, Grant; Balmer, Randall (September 8, 2011). Religion in American Life: A Short History. Oxford University Press. p. 161. ISBN9780199913299.
President George Washington, for example, set aside November 26, 1789, as a national day of prayer, repentance, and thanksgiving to God. John Adams, the second president, continued Washington's prayer day tradition.
- ^James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy (May 6, 2010). 'Jefferson, Madison and Jesus on the National Day of Prayer'. San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^'National Prayer for Peace'. The Jefferson Monticello. 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^'Presidential Proclamations'. www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^'Thanksgiving Day Proclamations 1789–present'. www.whatsoproudlywehail.org. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^Allmond, Joy (May 3, 2010). 'A Legacy of Revival in the Nation's Capital'. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^'The Pluralism Project at Harvard University :America's National Day of Prayer (2006)'. Pluralism.org. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^'National Prayer Committee website – Mission, Values, Call and Covenant'. Nationalprayer.org. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^'About the Foundation'. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^ ab'Proclamation 5017 – National Day of Prayer, 1983'. Reagan.utexas.edu. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^Sandoz, Ellis (2013). Republicanism, Religion, and the Soul of America. University of Missouri Press. p. 108. ISBN9780826265623.
- ^National Day of Prayer Task Force Knocks Obama White House, U.S. News & World Report, April 15, 2010, Dan Gilgof
- ^'National Day of Prayer'. Snopes. March 18, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^Obama, Barack (May 7, 2009). 'Presidential Proclamation National Day of Prayer'. The White House. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^'Trump attends church service on National Day of Prayer'. PBS Newshour. September 3, 2017.
- ^Linge, Mary K. 'Trump declares national day of player'. New York Post. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^Blackwell, Mark (April 30, 2014). 'National Day of Prayer'. CBS. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
Today is the National Day of Prayer. It has been around longer than we’ve been a country. It's celebrated on the first Thursday of May every year by Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and Sikhs.
- ^'National Day of Prayer opportunity for Americans to seek God'. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^'National Day of Prayer Grows in Popularity'. The Huffington Post. May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^'National Day of Prayer Observed by Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai'. Himalayan Academy. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^'National Day of Prayer events set in Augusta'. The Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^'Presidential Proclamation—National Day of Prayer'. White House. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
- ^'Atheist group sues Bush over national prayer day'. USA Today. October 6, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^'FFRF National Day of Prayer Case Proceeds – Freedom From Religion Foundation'. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
- ^'Decision of FFRF v. President Obama and Shirley Dobson'(PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^'Opinion and Order'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on June 2, 2010.
- ^Gilgoff, Dan (April 16, 2010). 'Federal judge strikes down National Day of Prayer statute'. CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^Richey, Warren (April 15, 2010). 'Federal judge: National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional'. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
- ^'CNN.com: U.S. appeals ruling striking down National Day of Prayer'. Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^'Court dismisses suit over National Day of Prayer – CBS News'. April 16, 2011. Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
External links[edit]
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