Lord, Hear Our Cry- A Sermon for National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer Service

1 Kings 8:28

Lord, Hear Our Cry

In the summer of 2010 Brandon Stanton decided to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers and plot their photos on a map as a catalogue of sorts. This aspiring photographer blogged these photos and they began to gain attention. Several months into this goal Brandon began to collect quotes and short stories from the people he photographed and used them as captions. Almost 5 years later, Brandon Stanton has over ten million followers on social media, has a #1 New York Times bestselling book and has a worldwide audience. His blog, Humans of New York, shows an intimate glance into the daily lives of normal New Yorkers. While his pictures are beautiful it is usually the story and the intimacy of it that grabs the reader.

Through this platform Brandon has raised awareness of certain issues, shared stories that are relevant to others, and created an online community through social media that inspires numerous people all over the world. He has given those in the crowd a face and told their story. He has helped facilitate conversations about relevant issues and challenged us to look at strangers differently.

As we gather today on this 64^th Annual National Day of Prayer this is what we are also doing, telling a story of sorts. The theme for this year is “Lord, hear our cry”, and with everything going on in the world this cannot be more relevant. During this day we are charged to cry out to God in prayer, to emphasize the need to put our trust in God, and to see the Lord’s healing and renewing power made manifest in this world.

Though this day is rooted in Christian heritage it is more than one denomination or religion. It is meant to be a time when people of different religions and many faiths dedicate time to pray for our nation and its well being. Since 1952 dozens of United States presidents have supported this date and called upon Americans of all religions to pray for this nation we call home. And that is why we celebrate this day, because this nation is part of who we each are, individually and communally. It is our right and job to care for this land, and one of those ways is through prayer.

In our scripture reading King Solomon is dedicating the temple he had built. Though gathered with the whole assembly of Israel this prayer we read seems intimate, as if hes speaking only to God. Eugene Peterson interprets the prayer this way; “Even so, I’m bold to ask: Pay attention to these my prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I’m setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, “My Name will be honored there,” and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place. Listen from your home in heaven and when you hear, forgive.”

This place is sacred because God resides here. We are able to gather here to offer up the worries and joys in our lives. But friends, God is beyond this place and it is our job as people of faith to continue Gods work in this world. We are called to cry out to God with our words, in our prayers, from the deepest part of our hearts. So during this day we do just that.

We pray to God for our nation, our leaders, and our communities. We pray for individual names; those we know those we love. We pray for ourselves; our insecurities and fears. We pray because it is necessary. Time in this place is sacred because God is listening and waiting for us to speak from the depths of our souls.

So what are our cries today? What are the stories we need to tell, to God and others? How can we create spaces so Gods healing and renewing hand can work? How do we live out our belief in our day to day interactions?

Friends there are many answers but the first step is to pray. We pray because it is expected of us, even though we may not do it as often as we should. We pray because it allows us to prepare our hearts, souls and minds for God to have Gods way. We pray because it shifts our relationships with God and others. We pray because sometimes that is all we can do.

At this time we will take a moment of silence. In your bulletins you will find a scrap of paper. I encourage you to write a prayer, a name, or even just hold it in your hand as you pray silently to our all hearing God. And as you are so moved, you are invited to place that paper on our altar. You are invited, you are welcome. “Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today;” Lord, hear our cry.