What You May Not Know About the National Day of Prayer

One day in the beginning of May every year for many years is observed as a National Day of Prayer.

,And it’s beginnings go way back, 250 years, to 1775, the year the Revolutionary War started.

In July of 1775, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending a day of prayer and fasting be observed.

Nearly 100 years later, 1863, President Lincoln signed a declaration during the middle of the Civil War for a day of prayer on July 20th of that year.

Fast forward to the year 1952, when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution for a National Day of Prayer that President Truman proclaimed would be held on July 4th 

In the 1980’s. President Reagan moved it to the first Thursday in May and it has been that way ever since.

The National Day of Prayer, this year on May 1st…has been observed by presidents and members of Congress every year.

With the political division and tension in our country., it comes of course at a pretty good time.

There’s even a National Day of Prayer hashtag trending on social media.

But then as history reflects, prayer has been a trend in the U.S since it started.

(Photo Getty Images)