Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. If you’re not aware of what it is, the National Day of Prayer began in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman. It was later amended by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to set the observance on the first Thursday of May.
Newton County will have two observances tomorrow. One will be at the Newton County Courthouse, where speakers from the around the county will lead prayers and the Newton County Middle School Choir will lead the crowd in prayerful and patriotic hymns.
The other observance will be on the steps of Newton City Hall. Newton First Baptist pastor Brian Rushing and music director Randy Cuchens organize the informal gathering where attendees have the opportunity to offer prayers among seven areas: government, military, media, business, education, church and family.
Both observances will begin right at noon Thursday.
This year’s theme seems most appropriate. It is “Love One Another” based on John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (NIV)
If there is one thing our country needs right now, it is love, especially the true love that God can give us. It’s a love that doesn’t look at skin color, gender or your socioeconomic background. It’s not based on what you’ve done for me lately. It’s not based on who you know and who you family or friends are.
It’s an unconditional love that really seems foreign to us. It’s a love that’s kind, patient, not envious, not self-seeking, not proud, not easily angered and rejoices with the truth. And that really only scratches the surface of what God’s love is.
All you have to do is look at your favorite social media outlet to see the opposite of this. It’s easy to get distracted by all of the hate we see.
So that’s why we need to pray for love in all aspects of our country. If we can learn to embrace love, how great would that be?
Brent can be reached at bmaze@newtoncountyappeal.com.
