| National Day of Prayer, “One Nation Under God” |
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Today during the National Day of Prayer, we continue a long tradition of acknowledging the blessings of God, asking for His mercy and forgiveness, and pleading for God’s divine intervention and guidance. George Washington issued a proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer on October 3, 1789. Just one week prior to that proclamation, Congress had approved the Bill of Rights, which begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Clearly, Congress did not interpret the “establishment clause” as secularists do today. In 2010, U.S. District Judge Barbarba Crabb sided with the Freedom From Religion Foundation and found the National Day of Prayer “unconstitutional.” However, in 2011, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overruled Crabb’s decision. This year’s theme, “One Nation Under God,” is based on Psalm 33:12, which reminds us that “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” “Liberty Counsel is committed to upholding the religious liberties handed down to us from our Founding Fathers,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “We will continue to fight against those who ironically use the Bill of Rights, which was created to limit the federal government, to limit America’s “free exercise of religion,” he said. “America was birthed in a prayer led by our Founding Fathers. After dissension arose among the Revolutionary leaders about the proper form of Government, and when all hope seemed lost, Benjamin Franklin arose and said, ‘Have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?’ The Founders convened a three-day prayer meeting, and America was born.” Staver recounted. “Perhaps, not since that prayer meeting has America been in more need of Eternal assistance. On this National Day of Prayer, let us humble our hearts before the Almighty God, repent of our sins, and ask Him to heal our land.” Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. |
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