Five Suggested Levels of Involvement & Participation

1. Private Observance. While Jesus never discouraged public prayer, he did exalt the practice of sincere private prayer. Our public prayers and public prayer forums will be hollow shells if we as individuals do not practice solemn prayer in our personal lives. Therefore, whatever else one does to observe The National Day of Prayer, be sure that it begins with sincere and fervent prayer in your own prayer closet. We encourage you to make this day particularly special in your personal prayer life. Remember, repentance must begin in the hearts of individuals.

2. Family Observance. What could be more appropriate on this day than for parents to gather their children and grandchildren around for a solemn observance of The National Day of Prayer? Why not make plans right now for a special family observance of The National Day of Prayer? Call your married children. Invite your parents, cousins and other relatives. This could very well become a very special, once a year day for your family. Such an observance will certainly leave the imprint of fond memories of solemn faith in the hearts of your children, and could impact their lives for years untold.

3. Church Observance. More churches are beginning to implement church-wide observances of The National Day of Prayer all the time. Some invite members to come to the church altar at any time during the day. Still others have special services. Pastors and church leaders are encouraged to make special plans to assist their members in taking part in The National Day of Prayer. Bulletin inserts are particularly helpful in letting congregants know what the church is doing, and also of special community events in which the church is participating. We believe that pastors are still the key. If our American pastors are asleep and uninspiring in promoting national prayer, our nation has little hope of Heaven's help.

4. Community Observance. This is the area in which The National Day Of Prayer really shines. The idea of thousands of communities meeting for the express purpose of acknowledging God in prayer is so very encouraging. We encourage participation in events in your community. To find out about events in your area, keep an eye on your local newspaper. The National Day of Prayer Task Force also does a tremendous job of providing a forum for posting local events on their web site at: . If you would like to become more involved in your community event or to start one in your community, you will find helpful material available on this site.

5. State & National Observance. For those who would like to be more involved in The National Day of Prayer, there are events and activities at both the state and national levels, with information on the NDP Task Force web site.

Mrs. Lotz has made an excellent commitment to MO by offering daily devotions of prayer specifically for our MO crisis. Anyone who will go to her website: www.annegrahamlotz.com / click on the state of Missouri (with a cross on it) and sign up for the daily prayers for MO will receive these brief thoughts. These will automatically stop at the end of the 40 days, which coincides with the time the budget has to be passed (around May 7). When you visit her website after clicking on the MO map, you can listen to the great message she gave on Monday. You can also listen to a brief radio interview with her at www.haroldhendrick.com.

*Would you urge your prayer website/network/prayer list to go to Anne’s website and be a part of a great swell of prayer for MO at a time of great crisis, whether living in MO or elsewhere? MO has to have a balanced budget and to do that this year means cutting thousands of dollars which will hurt many in our state.

We are in step with our Founding Fathers who realized that prayer was the backbone that provided The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution written for our country.

Four of the seven sayings etched in stone in the MO State Capitol Rotunda are from Scripture, an evidence of our own Missouri’s Christian Heritage!

Harold & Joan Hendrick

Hendrick Ministries

Phone: 314 355-1052

Cell: 314 974-7212

www.haroldhendrick.com

To God be all the Glory,

Lisa Crump, Director of Prayer Mobilization
National Day of Prayer Task Force
719-268-4803 office
www.nationaldayofprayer.org
<http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/>



<http://www.lifeway.com/ev/ev_occ_details/0,2223,O%3D1709,00.html>
Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares
for those who trust in him..."

<Opening Paragraph from Church Leadership)

I believe it is imperative that God’s people come together to pray for our nation. The critical challenges facing America and the culture at large call for
faithful, persevering intercession – not only on the National Day
of Prayer, but throughout the year. Scripture provides abundant
evidence that the Lord is attentive to our cries and that He moves
powerfully
in response to the fervent and contrite prayers of His children.
As Martin Luther once said, “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance,
but laying hold of His willingness.”

What comfort and encouragement are available in the assurance that our sovereign God is attuned to our pleas, that He waits to intervene on our behalf, and that He is
“mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:17). Bearing those wonderful
truths in mind, may we continue to seek the Lord’s blessing and
protection
upon our beloved land during these crucial days that will impact the
direction of our country for generations to come.

The 2010 observance of the National Day of Prayer will take place on Thursday, May 6, and
the theme we’ve chosen is Prayer! For Such a Time As This.

This emphasis was inspired by Nahum 1:7, which states, “The Lord is
good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust
in Him.” At this perilous and uncertain juncture in our country’s
history, it is critical that we remain in prayer. The American
people continue to be plagued with challenges that defy simple answers,
and our hope lies in humbly seeking the Almighty’s guidance, protection,

and blessing.

In II Chronicles 7:14, the Lord tells His people that He will respond to their contrite
and heartfelt cries of intercession. Please join our Task Force
in endeavoring to spark a revival of prayer throughout our country.
There is no better time than this! It is the hope for America.

Every blessing,

Mrs. James C. Dobson (Shirley)

Chairman, NDP Task Force

A year's worth of blog entries!

Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God combines memoir with theology. Step-by step instructions introduce the practice of praying in color as a way to do intercessory prayer.

Posted by Phil Miglioratti