On the eve of the National Day of Prayer, religious leaders, Trump administration officials and guests assembled at the White House to celebrate the priority of prayer for the nation.

Nearly 100 people attended the National Day of Prayer Dinner last night, which sets the stage for today’s observance.

“America will be a nation that believes forever … in the power of prayer,” declared President Trump from the State Dining Room.

The public day of prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.One of the people who advocated most strongly for the 1952 law was Billy Graham, who led a weeks-long prayer crusade to Washington that year, and on Feb. 3 gave a speech urging Congress to introduce legislation establishing a National Day of Prayer.

The law was unanimously amended by both the House and the Senate in 1988 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on Thursday, May 5 of that year, designating the first Thursday of May as a day of national prayer. Every president since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.

In his proclamation last week, President Trump wrote: “On this National Day of Prayer, Americans once again come together to give thanks to Almighty God for the bountiful blessings He has bestowed on our great nation and ask for His unfailing counsel. We acknowledge our dependence on God’s love to guide our families, communities, and our country away from harm and toward abundance and peace.”

Franklin Graham, who attended the National Day of Prayer Dinner at the White House last night, posted this message on Facebook this morning: “My father Billy Graham said, ‘Prayer is more than a wish; it is the voice of faith directed to God.’ That’s a good reminder since today is the National Day of Prayer. Our nation needs a spiritual awakening and it starts with prayer. There are many challenges facing our country, but the most important thing we can do is pray. We need to lift up our leaders at all levels of government—regardless of party affiliation—and ask God to give them wisdom. I’m thankful for a president and vice president that value prayer. Pray for President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as they continue to lead our great nation. God’s Word says, ‘And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us’ (1 John 5:14).

“I urge you to especially pray for our nation on this #NationalDayOfPrayer.”

The theme of this year’s observance is “Love One Another,” taken from the words of Jesus in John 13:34, “Love one another, just as I have loved you.”

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