Crosstalk: May 6, 2016

​It was the first Continental Congress that initially declared a National Day of Prayer in 1775 establishing a long standing tradition. In 1863 President Lincoln signed a proclamation that designated April 30th of that year as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. On April 17, 1952, Congress unanimously passed a joint resolution signed by President Truman establishing the annual National Day of Prayer by federal law. Public Law 82-324 declared that a National Day of Prayer would be held on a suitable day each year other than a Sunday. In 1988, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives amended the 1952 law by passing Public Law 100-307 to provide for setting aside the first Thursday in May as the date which is the National Day of Prayer. That act was signed by President Reagan. If ever there was the need for a time of prayer in America it is today. In Isaiah chapter 1, Isaiah's vision is described and although it deals with Judah and Jerusalem, verse 4 echos where America is today: 'Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.' In light of this, Jim asked listeners to present their answers to the following 3 questions: --My greatest prayer for the nation is... --My greatest prayer for the church is... --My greatest prayer for my family is... Find out how listeners answered these questions when you review this Crosstalk broadcast.