Oklahoma Legislature Endorses National Day of Prayer

Members of the Oklahoma Legislature joined with citizens around the state and nation in recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday. Sen. Earl Garrison introduced SCR 20 endorsing the special event.

"Now more than ever with our country facing the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, we need to look to the Lord for guidance, wisdom, and discernment on how to address this crisis," said Garrison, D-Muskogee.

The resolution also asked President Barack Obama to proclaim a special National Day of Prayer in June exclusively for the nation's continued economic recovery. Garrison said prayers are powerful and the National Day of Prayer says a lot about the United States of America.

Rep. Jerry McPeak was the principal House author of the resolution.

“‘Faith without works is dead’. We have put some measures in the ‘works’ to help our people and our economy,” said McPeak, D-Warner. “A day of prayer is appropriate to ask for God’s continued help, guidance and wisdom.”

Having national days of prayers in times of crisis has been a long tradition in the United States. The Continental Congress called for one in 1775, and President George Washington declared February 19, 1795, as a solemn day for prayer. President John Adams requested one in 1798, and President James Madison did the same in 1813. President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of prayer on March 10, 1863. On June 6, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation in prayer as American, British and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer on April 17, 1952 as did President Ronald Reagan in 1988. President George Walker Bush declared January 21, 2001 as a day of prayer and this year's observance was proclaimed for May 7.