President Barack Obama issued the annual National Day of Prayer proclamation, marking 5 May 2011 as a National Day of Prayer.

It is thus fitting that, from the earliest years of our country’s history, Congress and Presidents have set aside days to recognize the role prayer has played in so many definitive moments in our history…Let us be thankful for the liberty that allows people of all faiths to worship or not worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and let us be thankful for the many other freedoms and blessings that we often take for granted.

Let us pray for the men and women of our Armed Forces and the many selfless sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of our Nation.

I invite all citizens of our Nation, as their own faith or conscience directs them, to join me in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and I ask all people of faith to join me in asking God for guidance, mercy, and protection for our Nation.

The final paragraph is a uniquely qualified National Prayer proclamation when compared to previous ones.  This year the President invited “all citizens” to give thanks (on the day of prayer), and asked “all people of faith” to pray.  Rather than discriminating between the two groups (“all” versus “of faith”) last year, President Obama said simply

I call upon Americans to pray in thanksgiving for our freedoms and blessings and to ask for God’s continued guidance, grace, and protection

(With the exception of last year, this year also included the usual reference to Public Law 100-307, which has recently been ruled Constitutional.)

Prayer is a historical part of the fabric of the Nation, as well as the American military.  Just as their Commander in Chief has, men and women in the US military can and should pray, even in uniform and in public.

While it doesn’t have to be limited to May 5th, set aside time this day or this week to pray for our Nation and leaders, as the Bible directs (1 Tim 2).