George Washington (PPT)

While President Barack Obama plans to commemorate the National Day of Prayer with private prayer and a public reading of the proclamation for the day, one president didn't mince words when it came to the need for prayer.

On January 1, 1795, George Washington used these words to call for a national day of prayer and fasting–already a well-established tradition in the young nation. (courtesy of The Presidential Prayer Team)

It is in an especial manner our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue to confirm the blessings we experienced. Deeply penetrated with this sentiment, I, George Washington, President of the United States, do recommend to all religious societies and denominations, and to all persons whomsoever within the United States, to set apart and observe Thursday, the 19th day of February next, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, and on that day to meet together and render sincere and hearty thanks to the great Ruler of nations for the manifold and signal mercies which distinguish our lot as a nation…

Washington’s proclamation went on to request a list of items as appropriate for this week’s National Day of Prayer as for that one so long ago. He asked citizens to pray that:

God would continue to prolong His blessings on the young nation.

God would imprint on American hearts a solemn sense of our obligations to Him.

God would preserve us from the arrogance that accompanies prosperity.

Americans would continue to merit God’s favor by not abusing it.

Our nation would develop the habits of sobriety, order, morality and piety.