Thanksgiving is not only a special time of year to gather with family and friends, it is a time to reflect and recount the many blessings and answered prayers that each of us have experienced; individually, as families and as nation. We’d like to take a moment to thank the Lord for the tremendous victories in the area of prayer and religious freedom that have occurred over the last couple of weeks. As we have hoped and prayed, taken stands and taken action, the Lord has been faithful to answer.

In Forsyth County, NC, the courts have reaffirmed the God-given rights of residents to pray in Jesus’ name at public meetings due to the lifting of a federal court order on Thursday. In contradiction to our rich history of prayer and faith, the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit in 2007 in that challenged the county’s freedom to allow opening invocations by volunteers who wish to pray according to the dictates of their own consciences. This sets a precedent that could be good news for proponents of prayer in similar cases across the country.

Also, just this week, we learned that the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the right of Colorado Governors to issue proclamations calling for state days of prayer, upholding an earlier ruling by the Colorado District Court, and overturning a subsequent ruling by the Colorado Court of Appeals. John Bornschein, vice-chairman for the National Day of Prayer (NDP) Task Force commented, “This is definitely a victory for the free exercise of religion that our Founding Fathers sought to ensure, and we are thankful for the outcome. I can’t think of a time in recent memory when it has been more important to pray for wisdom and direction for our state and its leaders.”  

These are monumental victories that will help promote prayer, preserve our Judeo-Christian foundation and protect religious freedom for all.

Many of America’s Presidents understood the importance of setting time apart for focused thanksgiving and praise. Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt have all issued Proclamations of Thanksgiving and Praise to enumerate the blessings of the American people.