By election of Congress the President of the United States is to proclaim a National Day of Prayer on a day other than a Sunday. Usually this is observed on a Wednesday in the month of October. Rev. Harlan Vanden Einde, writer of this article, is pastor of the Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Mich.
“My fellow Americans, our long, national nightmare is over,” These words are found in the text of the inaugural address made by Gerald R. Ford on the day he took his presidential oath of office. It was a unique circumstance under which he spoke, but he undoubtedly echoed the feelings of the majority of Americans, and perhaps even spoke for many beyond our borders. The trauma of Watergate was a grueling political experience for the nation, one that was instrumental in turning the course of life dramatically for many people. If the Lord tarries, our children’s children will read of it in their history books, but even we who have lived through it will not be able to satisfactorily answer their questions as to why and how it all could have happened.
Because we confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all of life, we live in the sure conviction that He is governing all of history. By that we do not mean that people, including politicians, are mechanically moved by the tug and pull of a string attached to the finger of the King of kings. But we do mean that despite the failures and blunders of men, the purposes of God are being fulfilled one by one, until the lines of history shall converge on the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Were the pages of history left solely to be written by the will of men, we would find ourselves soon overcome by a profound sense of hopelessness and despair.
In that light, we should be deeply grateful for the tradition which finds the President of the United States declaring a National Day of Prayer each year in the month of October. The seriousness and genuineness with which these proclamations have sometimes been made in the past may be open to legitimate question. Hardly dare we judge the moti ve behind the proclamntion of each President, however. But the skeptic may take advantage of the political climate of reccnt years and argue that the prayers of the Christian on behalf of the nation have been in vain, and that the proclamation of such a day of prayer is only formal hypocrisy. And the atheist may chuckle under his breath and say: “I told you so!”
But that is precisely all the more reason for us to be earnest ancl sincere about our participation in a National Day of Prayer. There is a sound biblical b3sis for the offering of prayers on behalf of those in authority over us. Paul urged Timothy in I Timothy 2:1, 2: “I exhort therefore, 6rst of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for the kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.” It is very clear that God is pleased to carry out His purposes, in government too, through the instrumentality of the prayers of His people.
Our President has asked for the prayers of the people of this nation. In his inaugural address, he said : “I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots. So I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers. And I hope that such prayers will be the first of many.” No, Mr. Ford was not elected at the ballot box. His route to the highest office in the land was indeed unique, humanly speaking. But that, we trust, was not his only reason for requesting prayers on his behalf. “For there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God,” Romans 13:1. That’s why he needs our prayers, not just on a National Day of Prayer, but every day! For it is beneath God’s power that he exercises his authority.
Does prayer really change things? Sometimes we become pretty serious in asking that question. You, together with many other Christians, may have prayed regularly for our nation‘s government, that it might be marked by the characteristics of justice and integrity; and still lhe whole political storm of Watergate developed and caused untold difficulties. But you and I cannot see the end from the beginning. Our perspective is limited to the “now,” while God’s perspective is past, present, and future. God’s overarching purposes in history are indeed being accomplished, even though it means that He must be picking up the broken pieces caused by sinful, blundering men.
In the meantime, we must be faithful to our privileged-duty, to call upon God in prayer on behalf of our nation and her leaders. And of paramount importance in all of our praying is the understanding that we seek not to impose our will upon God‘s, but that our will is lost in His. St. Augustine set a good example for us when he said: “O Lord, grant that I may never seek to bend the straight to the crooked, that is, Thy will to mine; but that I may ever bend the crooked to the straight, that is, my will to Thine; that Thy will may be done and Thy kingdom come.”
Yes, our National Day of Prayer is important, not because it is a nice idea to carry on with traditions, but because God’s purposes are fulfilled through the prayers of His people. Answered prayer does not mean that something goes our way, but that everything goes God‘s way.
The story is told of a lady who owned a little golden cross, upon which were engraved on the upright bar the words “God‘s will,” and on the crossbar, “my will.” At the touch of a spring, the crossbar folded parallel to the upright bar, leaving only the straight beam with the words “God’s will” visible. When our prayers become that little spring collapsing the “my will” bar, then we shall never more need complain that we do not get our way, for God’s way will have become ours. And then we can be assured that our prayers will be answered.
Thy love divine has led us in the past; In this free l..md by Thee our lot is cast; Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay; Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.