Every day is a day of prayer. You can’t live a life devoted to God’s presence and not be connected to that presence as much as possible. Prayer is a commitment to surrender each day to God.
I like the idea of prayer dedicated to our country and its citizens. But I can’t pray for the United States only. Every human is sacred or no one is sacred.
In my way of prayer, I start by recognizing or rethinking God’s infinite and eternal presence. There is only God and nothing else.
Then I unify myself with my creator by announcing that God and I are one. Once this idea is firmly in my heart and mind, I then declare what I know to be true. This is followed by a statement of thanks giving and release.
Recognize, unify, declare, give thanks and let go. This is the way I pray.
Jim Turrell
Center for Spiritual Living
Prayers should be directed to what is at least remotely possible. Jewish tradition teaches us to not offer prayers in vain, prayers that are probably not capable of fulfillment.
Hence, I did not pray that our senators and congressmen attain wisdom. It appears that they are forever smitten with a burning desire to do nothing for the common good, to take as long as possible to do said nothing, and to then boast that they have done something beneficial. It would be in vain to pray that they become believable, trustworthy, or that they merit reelection.
As Mark Twain wrote, “No one’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.”
So, I prayed that Congress meet but rarely, that our nation will prosper and flourish in spite of its so-called leaders, and especially that we continue as a government of laws and not men.
Rabbi Mark S. Miller
Temple Bat Yahm
Newport Beach
I am so grateful that I joined the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council for the National Day of Prayer breakfast Thursday! There were community members and clergy leaders representing many faiths present to share in prayer. We prayed together for our families, our cities, Orange County, California, the United States, all of our government leaders, and most importantly we prayed for the entire world.
We were incredibly blessed to have the pleasure of listening to our key note speaker, David Levinson, founder of Big Sunday, speak from his heart with bold honesty, witty humor, and touching authenticity.
