Today is designated as the National Day of Prayer.

It is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May each year inviting people of all faiths to pray for our nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

Like so many other things in our world, some have taken the opportunity to politicize this day. That is not my intent in this column.

Rather it is my desire to do one thing alone. I want to encourage you to pray for our country.

The truth is that the United States of America is not a Christian country. I do believe it was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Throughout her history, our leaders have reminded us of our great need to seek God’s help in all that we do.

But this land is not a theocracy. We have freedoms to worship – or not to worship – as we see fit.

Still, those of us who are believers see the need for God’s guidance. As we pray for our country, we do so to ask for his forgiveness where we have failed, his protection from harm, and for his guidance for the future.

We do not seek to coerce others to believe or live as we do. But we do wish to have the freedom to share with them why we believe and live as we do.

Today I want to encourage you to take the time to pray. By the time you read this, most of the public observances will have been completed. Still, as you retire for the evening, I ask you to pray.

Pray for God’s blessings. Pray for his direction. But more than anything else thank him for his love and his help along the way.

He has been good to us. For that we are grateful.