President Bush Marks National Day of Prayer

May 3, 2007

Author: Adelle M. Banks

Source: Pew Forum

Wire Service: RNS

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=R13381

President Bush hosted an interfaith observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday (May 3), citing several reasons why he believes Americans are drawn to prayer.

"We're a prayerful nation," the president said in remarks in the East Room of the White House. "I believe that makes us a strong nation."

Bush said people pray to give thanks, to gain strength to follow God's will and to yield to God's authority, but he said the last reason can be the most challenging.

"We pray to acknowledge God's sovereignty in our lives and our complete dependence on him," Bush said, speaking to a crowd of 200 that included Christians, Jews, Muslims and Hindus.

"This is probably the toughest prayer of all, particularly for those of us in politics. In the humility of prayer we recognize the limits of human strength and human wisdom."

The National Day of Prayer has been observed since 1952, when it was established by Congress. It is marked each year on the first Thursday in May.