Donald Trump, Tim Tebow, Conrad Hilton and the National Day of Prayer

In venues large and small, the nation pauses on Thursday to recognize the 74^th annual National Day of Prayer – an annual observance that aims to draw all eyes on the Lord.

From President Trump hosting a gathering in the sun-splashed White House Rose Garden to gatherings in the smallest of American churches, this year’s festivities center around the apostle Paul’s charge to early believers in Rome:

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Has American ever been in greater need for joy, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit?

While prayer helped birth America in its earliest days, hotelier Conrad Hilton is credited with championing legislation that established the yearly tradition of having the government set aside a special day to praise and petition the Lord.

Sponsored by Senator Frank Carlson of Kansas, the legislation signed into law by President Truman in 1952 declared,

“The President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

You might say the idea for an annual day of prayer can be traced back to a pastor named Abraham Vereide, a Norwegian immigrant who began hosting breakfast prayer meetings in 1930’s Seattle. Good ideas often catch fire, and that’s what occurred just prior to the start of World War II. Visitors from other cities attended the Seattle gatherings and brought the idea home with them.

Pastor Vereide moved to Washington, D.C. in 1942 and started hosting the prayer breakfast for members of Congress. Conrad Hilton, who founded the Hilton Hotel empire and who was a devout believer, attended and talked frequently about the power of prayer.

He once observed, “In the circle of successful living, prayer is the hub that holds the wheel together. Without our contact with God we are nothing. With it, we are a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.”

Senator Carlson told President Eisenhower about the breakfast tradition. One thing quickly led to another. By 1953, President Eisenhower agreed to attend. Conrad Hilton offered to host the special event in his Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. A tradition was born.

It was at that first prayer breakfast when President Eisenhower said, “Prayer is just simply necessity. By prayer I believe we mean an effort to get in touch with the Infinite.”

On Thursday in the Rose Garden, President Trump spoke of the Lord’s sovereignty. “Our God knows exactly where we’re going, what we’re doing, knows every inch of our life. May He continue to hear our prayers, guide our steps, and build up our beloved nation to even greater heights.”

Tim Tebow, who continues to use his various national platforms to proclaim God’s glory and encourage, is among those hosting a special National Day of Prayer event this evening at 8 p.m. Central. He’s joined by Dr. Ben Carson, among others.

On Thursday, Tim shared on social media:

Prayer isn’t about presentation; it’s a person. Psalm 3:4 says, ‘I call out to the LORD, and He answers me from His holy mountain.’ This is what the National Day of Prayer is all about. Coming together before the throne of our loving Father to seek His will for ourselves, our neighbors, and our nation.

Join me today in humbly going before the throne of grace, which we can do because of one person – a person who is also God: King Jesus.

Amen and amen.