“The National Day of Prayer was officially created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President Harry Truman. Since 1952, every president has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.” That includes President Obama who signed the proclamation last year. He did not participate in the National Day of Prayer himself but did sign the proclamation. He says that he plans to sign it again this year even though a federal court ruled the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. The National Day of Prayer is May 6. Please pray that President Obama keeps his word.
For more information see http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100422/congressmen-defend-natl-day-of-prayer-as-constitutional/index.html
There is much misunderstanding regarding the constitutionality of government organizations or workers taking part in religious activities. Much of this is due to the brainwashing many of our people, including our government officials, have received through public education. Many times it is mentioned that the government bodies may be violating the separation of church and state. This is mentioned as if there is a law saying that government workers or organizations can have nothing to do with religious things because people might think they are promoting religion. However, no such law exists. It cannot be found in our constitution, and it cannot be found in any of the founding documents of our country.
See the "Constitution" document in PDF in the sidebar. This document contains the Declaration of Independence as well. The word “separation” does not occur at all in the Constitution. It occurs only twice in the Declaration of Independence. Both times it refers to the necessity of the people to separate from the government under which they previously lived because that government was abusing its powers and was not listening to the petitions of the people. It even mentions that they did this in order to maintain the separate and equal station granted to them by the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. Our founding fathers did not fear to acknowledge God in the founding documents of our country. They did not intend to separate God from the government.
The word “church” does not exist in these documents at all. There is no reason to declare the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. The law of separation of church and state does not exist. There is nothing there to be violated by our leaders acknowledging God in their lives and service for our country. But there is everything to lose if they do not.
Psalm 148:11-13 says, “Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” Our rulers should fear God, because it is only by His will that they are permitted to govern. In Proverbs 8:16,17 God says, “By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
God set up King Saul and brought him down – I Samuel 9:17 and 16:1
God chose Solomon over all King David’s sons and set him up to rule over Israel – I Chronicles 28:5
God set up Nebuchadnezzar to be king and gave all the nations of the known world into his hand and all the beasts of the field into his hand to serve him – Jeremiah 27:5-7
God also brought Nebuchadnezzar down for his pride and made him lower even than the beasts of the field to humble him – Daniel 4:25
God set up Belshazzar and brought him down and destroyed his kingdom because he did not acknowledge God or give God glory – Daniel 5:18-31
God is the one who gave Pilate power to acquit or condemn Jesus; he could have had no power at all if it had not been given him by God – John 19:11
God removes kings and sets kings up – Daniel 2:21
God rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will – Daniel 4:25,32
Jesus has all power in heaven and in earth – Matthew 28:18
Thank You, Jesus. It is only this knowledge that keeps us encouraged in the fight. You are always near.