Who’s Missing from Biden’s Day of Prayer Proclamation? Only God Almighty.
While President Joe Biden holds up racial justice, climate change, quotes a late Democrat civil rights leader about the power of the people and lauds progressive priorities, he became the first president in history to omit any mention of God Almighty in the traditional Day of Prayer Proclamation.
President Biden is required by law — the 1952 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress — to proclaim the National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday of May. But unlike his predecessors, he leaves out any reference to the Great “I Am,” becoming, as one Christian publication reported, the first U.S. president to do so.
Conceding that prayer is a “daily practice for many,” President Biden’s Proclamation reads: “As we continue to confront the crises and challenges of our time — from a deadly pandemic, to the loss of lives and livelihoods in its wake, to a reckoning on racial justice, to the existential threat of climate change — Americans of faith can call upon the power of prayer to provide hope and uplift us for the work ahead.”
He continued, “As the late Congressman John Lewis once said, “Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.”
Omitting the Creator of the Universe when calling for prayer is absurd, said Ralph Drollinger, President and Founder of Capitol Ministries.
“Prayer to whom, or prayer to what? It’s just stupid not to mention God when making a proclamation about prayer,” Drollinger said.
“He speaks as if prayer is the power versus the means to invoke power. But I guess you have to frame it that way if you are unwilling to acknowledge God.”
“This would be funny if it weren’t so sad. It’s a secular workaround on prayer.”
President Biden’s proclamation is not in keeping with the spirit of those written by other presidents who call upon citizens to pray to God and is especially discordant with the intent of the law.
The National Day of Prayer has a long-standing and historical significance for our nation and is part of our heritage.
The day “exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer … and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families,” according to the independent National Day of Prayer (NDP) Committee that was founded at the International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974. The committee’s mission is to mobilize unified public prayer for America.
“The Task Force represents a Judeo-Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible,” the committee reports on its website.
In ministries to local, state, and federal public servants throughout the United States and around the world, Capitol Ministries teaches about biblical prayer which includes that prayers should be made to God.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
In the CapMin Bible study, “Are You Praying Most Effectively For the Elections?” Drollinger writes that prayers are heard and acted upon by God are only achieved through His Son Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Because of man’s fallen nature, he is not in a position to expect God to hear his prayers. The prayers of unregenerate people are ineffective, save the prayer of repentance from sin.
“Note specifically Isaiah 59:2, one of many biblical passages that serve to make this point: “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
In “Knowing Jesus, Part 6: Prayer,” Drollinger writes, “Remember: Christianity is not just a bunch of Bible knowledge; it is personal relationship with God! Prayer then is an exchange of intimacy with God. Learn to relish in it—not drudge it! Scripture tells us God is very interested in our personal struggles.”
Psalm 34:15 says: “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.”
The NDP Committee notes the importance of the Day of Prayer, writing that it transcends differences, brings together citizens from all backgrounds, and belongs to all Americans.
“We have lost many of our freedoms in America because we have been asleep,” said Shirley Dobson, NDP chairman emeritus. “I feel if we do not become involved and support the annual National Day of Prayer, we could end up forfeiting this freedom, too.”
Prayer to God Almighty has deep roots in the founding of our nation.
In 1787 when the founding fathers were failing to draft the U.S. Constitution and threatening to return to their home states, Benjamin Franklin challenged them to pray. He persuaded that the success of the revolution was due to the Continental Congress being constant prayer, and that now they should also pray for a constitution.
The Continental Congress reconvened with prayer and in 10 weeks produced the longest on-going constitution in the history of the world.
Of this, Alexander Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers: “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which without the finger of God never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”
Biden is the first president to omit “God” from the National Day of Prayer Proclamation, reports Michael Foust, contributor to the online publication ChristianHeadlines.com. Foust offers excerpts from previous presidents’ proclamations:
President Trump’s 2018 proclamation mentioned “God” multiple times, such as: “On this National Day of Prayer, let us come together, all according to their faiths, to thank God for His many blessings and ask for His continued guidance and strength.”
President Obama: “On this day, let us give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon our Nation.”
President George W. Bush: “We come together to thank God for our Nation’s many blessings, to acknowledge our need for His wisdom and grace, and to ask Him to continue to watch over our country in the days ahead.”
President Clinton: “Let us not forget those painful lessons of our past, but continue to seek the guidance of God in all the affairs of our Nation.”
President George H.W. Bush: “As one Nation under God, we Americans are deeply mindful of both our dependence on the Almighty and our obligations as a people He has richly blessed.”
President Reagan encouraged Americans to “turn our faces and our hearts to God not only at moments of personal danger and civil strife, but in the full flower of the liberty, peace, and abundance that He has showered upon us.”
President Carter: “We endure and remain a land of hope because of the basic goodness and strength of our people and because the God of us all has shown us His favor.”
President Ford: “Let us also reflect on the profound faith in God which inspired the founding fathers.”
President Nixon: “America is a nation under God.”
President Johnson: “Let each of us pray that God will endow us with the constancy to prevail in defense of freedom, and with the courage and resolution to preserve and extend His blessings of liberty.”
President Kennedy: “May we especially ask God’s blessing upon our homes, that this integral unit of society may nurture our youth and give to them the needed faith in God, in our Nation, and in their future.”
President Eisenhower: “Let us remember that our God is the God of all men, that only as all men are free can liberty be secure for any, and that only as all prosper can any be content in their good fortune.”
President Truman, who signed the 1952 bill into law, encouraged Americans to “beseech God to grant us wisdom to know the course which we should follow.”
“May God continue to bless America,” Drollinger said. “I encourage everyone to pray for God’s will to be done in our nation.”
