First Saturday Prayer for May

National Day of Prayer Week

The 60th Annual National Day of Prayer will took place Thursday, May 5, 2011. Millions united in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast. This year's theme, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, is based on the verse from Psalm 91:2 which states: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Mrs. Joni Eareckson Tada joined Mrs. Shirley Dobson leading the Nation in prayer as the 2011 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

Watch this year's National Day of Prayer here

Mrs. Dobson posts the following statement on the National Day of Prayer Taskforce website at  http://nationaldayofprayer.org/news/from-the-chairma/
"Throughout the six decades since Congress established an annual National Day of Prayer, untold millions of Americans have come together every year to express humble reliance upon the Almighty. On May 5th, citizens will once again gather stateside and at points around the globe to lift our nation and leaders before the Lord. In doing so, we pay tribute to the example set by our Founding Fathers and by presidents down through the years who have exhorted the American people to seek God’s help and deliverance during trying times. As Abraham Lincoln presided over a war-torn land, he called on his fellow citizens to take part in a day of fasting and prayer, making this statement: “…it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…” What a powerful reminder of the true source of our well-being. It was in that spirit that our NDP Task Force chose A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD as our 2011 theme, inspired by the faith-filled declaration found in Psalm 91:2: 'I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.’”

Prayer
2011 National Prayer by Joni Eareckson Tada, Honorary Chairman

Almighty God, you are our Mighty Fortress, our refuge and the God in whom we place our trust. As our nation faces great distress and uncertainty, we ask your Holy Spirit to fall afresh upon your people — convict us of sin and inflame within us a passion to pray for our land and its people. Grant the leaders of our country an awareness of their desperate need of wisdom and salvation in You until sin becomes a reproach to all and righteousness exalts this nation.

Protect and defend us against our enemies and may the cause of Christ always prevail in our schools, courts, homes, and churches. Lord God, send a spirit of revival and may it begin in our own hearts.

Remember America, we pray. Remember the foundations on which this country was built. Remember the prayers of our nation’s fathers and mothers, and do not forget us in our time of need.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.