The National Day of Prayer observance was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of Congress and signed into law by President Truman. Each year since then our president has called upon the citizens of our nation to pray, and in 1988 President Reagan established this day of prayer to be the First Thursday of May. The significance for us as a nation is that it enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founders sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical challenges and decisions. It stands as a call for us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people.

The 2025 Theme stands as a call to pray the promise, so that we are filled with all joy and peace in believing, as we abound in HOPE. POUR OUT TO THE GOD OF HOPE AND BE FILLED is inspired by the Apostle Paul’s prayer for believers in Romans 15:13 NASB; “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.”