What is the National Day of Prayer?
The National Day of Prayer is held on the first Thursday of May each year (Thursday, May 1, 2025), meant to anchor us to the true source of liberty—Jesus Christ. The History of National Day of Prayer is rich, and teaches us this one abiding truth:
We are a nation forged and fought for through prayer:
💥 July 1775—Cannons were firing in the air. The United States was not yet its own as the Revolutionary War was being fought. The Continental Congress issued a proclamation of fasting and prayer to ask God for favor and freedom.
🇺🇸 February 1795—We were a new nation. George Washington, as one of his first acts as the leader of our infant country, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer for the nation.
🙏🏼 May 1798—The nation was in flux, and its future uncertain. John Adams declared a day of “solemn, humility, fasting, and prayer.”
❤️🩹 March 1863—The Civil War was ravaging our divided nation. Abraham Lincoln signed a Congressional resolution which called for a day of fasting and prayer.
🏛️ February 1950—Billy Graham led services on Capitol Hill's steps, leading President Harry Truman to establish the first National Day of Prayer.
🙌🏽 May 1983—The heart of our nation was being reignited towards God, and Ronald Reagan and the conservative evangelical Christian organization called the "National Prayer Committee" coordinated and implemented a fixed annual day of prayer for the nation.
The National Day of Prayer reminds us that no matter who sits in the seats of power, or what crisis we face, God is in control.
Who Celebrates The National Day of Prayer?
Once a year, across courtrooms, churches, and synagogues, faithful Americans set aside their denominational differences and bow their heads in prayer.
💒 The National Day of Prayer is a powerful display of unity in a country often divided by beliefs, politics, and culture.
From bustling city squares to quiet rural chapels, millions come together to pray for the nation’s future, seeking guidance, healing, and strength.
The day is marked by public gatherings, prayer luncheons, worship concerts, and solemn moments of silence in front of courthouses.
🌎 Prayer has shaped America’s history, and it’s still shaping us today.
Each year, the President of the United States adds to the tradition by issuing an official proclamation, a reminder that beyond policies and politics, faith remains a cornerstone of the American spirit.
Whether whispered in pews or declared in public squares, these prayers weave together a diverse nation, proving that in times of uncertainty, America still believes in the power of prayer.
Why Does the National Day of Prayer Matter?
📖 The Bible is Clear: A Praying Nation is a Thriving Nation.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." – Jeremiah 29:7
"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
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💪🏽 History is Instructive:
Our Greatest Leaders were Men and Women of Prayer.
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” Abraham Lincoln
“I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.”
Maya Angelou
“From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future."
Ronald Reagan
Who Celebrates The National Day of Prayer?
Once a year, across courtrooms, churches, and synagogues, faithful Americans set aside their denominational differences and bow their heads in prayer.
💒 The National Day of Prayer is a powerful display of unity in a country often divided by beliefs, politics, and culture.
From bustling city squares to quiet rural chapels, millions come together to pray for the nation’s future, seeking guidance, healing, and strength.
The day is marked by public gatherings, prayer luncheons, worship concerts, and solemn moments of silence in front of courthouses.
🌎 Prayer has shaped America’s history, and it’s still shaping us today.
Each year, the President of the United States adds to the tradition by issuing an official proclamation, a reminder that beyond policies and politics, faith remains a cornerstone of the American spirit.
Whether whispered in pews or declared in public squares, these prayers weave together a diverse nation, proving that in times of uncertainty, America still believes in the power of prayer.
How Do I Participate in The National Day of Prayer?
⛪️ Find a Local Church ⛪️
Churches in every state and community host all sorts of National Day of Prayer. Find a gathering here.
📲 Join Millions Worldwide Online 📲
An entire movement of people is gathering online to worship, pray, and declare God’s glory on the PRAY.COM app.
🙏🏼 Make Prayer a Priority Every Day 🙏🏼
The National Day of Prayer is a single day we get to all pray together, but true transformation, healing, and revival happen when people make prayer a priority every day.
PRAY helps people everywhere make prayer a priority by offering daily prayers, sermons, and Bible stories.
What is This Year’s National Day of Prayer Theme?
In a world running on empty—empty promises, empty pursuits, empty hearts—God invites us to pour out our fears, burdens, and uncertainties and be filled with something greater. Hope.
This year’s National Day of Prayer theme, “Pour Out to the Hope of God and Be Filled,” is a call to release everything weighing us down and step into the overflowing joy, peace, and hope that only God can provide. It is a reminder that hope is a power, a force, a divine certainty that transforms lives, strengthens faith, and revives nations.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
We live in a time when anxiety is at an all-time high, division runs deep, and many wonder if true peace is even possible. But the God of Hope is not distant. He is near. He is ready. And He is able to fill the void the world cannot.
So, what would happen if a nation poured out its doubts, its fears, its frustrations—and instead, opened its heart to the supernatural hope of God? What if we truly believed that the Holy Spirit’s power could fill us beyond measure?
This year, let’s not just pray for change. Let’s pour out. Let’s be filled. Let’s let hope rise.
Why Pray for America?
Nothing catches God off guard. Not economic turmoil, not global threats, not political unrest. While the world shifts beneath our feet, He remains unshaken. And through prayer, we can tap into His wisdom, strength, protection, and peace.
🇺🇸 America Needs Prayer—Now More Than Ever
America’s very foundation echoes its dependence on God—“one nation under God” in our pledge, “In God We Trust” on our currency.
But how many truly know the God who rules over this nation? The One who shapes the mountains, commands the winds, and walks on the heights of the earth.
“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, He who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the LORD God Almighty is His name.” —Amos 4:13 NIV
God has already given us the key to national healing:
“If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” —2 Chronicles 7:14
America doesn’t need more division. It needs a revival. It needs hearts humbled, hands lifted, and voices crying out to the only One who can bring lasting change. When we seek Him earnestly, He responds. When we turn back to Him, He heals.
🤲🏼 Let’s not just say we trust in God—let’s actually trust Him. Let’s pray for America.
How Does PRAY.COM Make National Day of Prayer a Priority?
In 2020, PRAY hosted its first National Day of Prayer event, reaching nearly one million viewers through a live Facebook stream. Among the speakers were President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence, which was a radical showing of the unifying power of prayer.
Watch PRAY.COM National Day of Prayer 2020
The following year, they took it even further, organizing a virtual National Day of Prayer that brought together influential voices from faith, politics, and music. This event featured leaders like Greg Laurie, Jack Graham, and Lecrae.
Watch PRAY.COM National Day of Prayer 2021
Each year, PRAY has continued to make prayer for the nation a priority, facilitating not only livestreamed events, but an entire library of prayers and devotionals people can access daily on the PRAY.COM app.
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