National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer History

National Day of Prayer is an annual holiday that serves to encourage Americans to pray, meditate and repent. It is also used to draw awareness to prayer and religious beliefs.

The origins of National Day of Prayer date back to 1787 when Benjamin Franklin asked President George Washington to open each day with prayer and to realize that prayer is deeply intertwined in the fabric of the United States. It was not until February 1952 however, that Reverend Billy Graham petitioned support of Representative Percy Priest to observe a national day of prayer. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming National Day of Prayer, to encourage Americans to turn to God in prayer and meditation. National Prayer Day is celebrated every year on the first Thursday of May.

Top 10 Facts for National Day of Prayer in 2026

• The 2026 National Day of Prayer is centered around the theme Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations, which is derived from the biblical text of 1 Chronicles 16:24.
• This year's theme is inspired by the historical prayer of thanksgiving offered by King David in the Old Testament after he successfully brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.
• The official promotional artwork for the 2026 observance prominently features a licensed reproduction of the famous 1975 painting The Prayer at Valley Forge by artist Arnold Friberg.
• Since the law was enacted in 1952, every sitting United States President has signed an annual proclamation for the observance, and the law was further amended in 1988 to permanently fix the date on the first Thursday of May.
• A major supplementary event titled Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving is scheduled for May 17, 2026, on the National Mall to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
• The upcoming Rededicate 250 gathering is part of a broader spiritual initiative called America Prays, which aims to gather participants from every state to rededicate the country as "One Nation Under God."
• Kathy Branzell currently serves as the president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a role previously held for many years by Shirley Dobson.
• While the day is widely observed by various faith communities, secular organizations often mark the same date as the National Day of Reason to advocate for the separation of church and state.
• Despite several legal challenges over the decades from groups such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, federal courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of the national observance.
• The 2026 national broadcast is expected to be livestreamed to tens of thousands of local gatherings and will feature various Christian leaders and musical guests to lead the nation in corporate intercession.

In the News and Trending in the US for National Day of Prayer

Top things to do in the US for National Day of Prayer

• Attend a religious service at your place of worship on the National Day of Prayer. If you are not religious, try meditation or meditative yoga.
• Practice mindfulness by focusing upon the internal and external experience of each moment of life. Mindfulness creates awareness and encourages one to be grateful for their blessings.
• Offer a prayer for your loved ones and for those who are serving at the frontlines to protect America.
• Attend a spiritual retreat that appeals to your beliefs, including meditation and yoga retreats.
• Attend a prayer event on Prayer Day. There are many local events, some religious based, others meditation oriented.