People come together on National Day of Prayer, Trump to sign order to protect religious freedom

The first Thursday in May is the National Day of Prayer.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Americans across the country are meeting all day today to pray, give thanks to God, and ask for renewed blessings in the year to come. At the same time, President Trump has marked the occasion by signing an executive order on religious freedom.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Americans across the country are uniting in prayer on this, the National Day of Prayer. At the White House, religious leaders have met with President Trump for the signing of an executive order intended to protect religious freedom.

Americans have gathered in prayer since before the United States was established. The first permanent English colony in the Americas was created by the Pilgrims, Puritan outcasts who wanted to be free to practice their faith without fear of persecution. They were soon followed by other Christians, although of slightly different beliefs. Quakers arrived and settled in Pennsylvania. Catholics colonized Maryland.

Once established, these Christian communities often gathered in prayer, particularly in their legislatures. Their goal was to preserve God as the ultimate head of state. To give thanks and to ask for new blessings.

Days of prayer were often state affairs, and varied widely. It wasn't until the Civil War that Abraham Lincoln declared a day of prayer for April 30, 1863.

In 1952, Billy Graham petitioned Congress to implement a National Day of Prayer, and within two weeks, they officially created the day. But it did not have a fixed date. That changed in 1988 when President Reagan fixed the National Day of Prayer to the first Thursday in May each year.

On the National Day of Prayer, Christians come together in prayer, especially our politicians. Nowhere is prayer needed so urgently.

Trump is also signing an executive order today to defend religious freedom. The details of the order remain unknown, but religious employers have a long-running concern that they will be compelled by the government to participate and condone things that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The First Amendment is intended to protect people from government interference in their religious faith. The same Amendment also allows leaders to enjoy privately held religious beliefs.

As Americans, we have enjoyed many blessings. It is right for us to give thanks to God from whom all good things come.

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