History of Prayer in America
“Days of Prayer have a long history in America. Colonists declared Days of Prayer during droughts, Indian attacks and threats from other nations. Edward Winslow’s record of the Pilgrims’ experiences, reprinted in Alexander Young’s Chronicles of the Pilgrims (Boston, 1841), stated: “Drought and the like considerations moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before Him, but also to humble ourselves together before the Lord by Fasting and Prayer.
In colonial Connecticut, settlers proclaimed by legal authority a day in early spring for Fasting and Prayer. The governor customarily selected Good Friday as the annual spring fast. In 1668, the Virginia House of Burgesses in Jamestown passed an ordinance stating: “The 27th of August appointed for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, to implore God’s mercy…
On May 15, 1776, General George Washington ordered: “The Continental Congress having ordered Friday the 17th instant to be observed as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please Him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the arms of the United Colonies, and finally establish the peace and freedom of America upon a solid and lasting foundation; the General commands all officers and soldiers to pay strict obedience to the orders of the Continental Congress; that, by their unfeigned and pious observance of their religious duties, they may incline the Lord and Giver of victory to prosper our arms.” https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/about/history_of_prayer_in_america
Is the Trump announcement of a day of Prayer on May 17, 2026 significant this year? Trump’s prayer is said to rededicate America as one Nation under God. I pray for that to happen. What a blessing it would be to see our Nation once again dedicate ourselves to God. The Savior’s coming can be any day, and we must pray and fast to be ready.
Trump announces May 17 National Mall prayer event: Time to ‘rededicate America’
Trump revealed the event during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton, where he also doubled down on his commitment to religious liberty in the US.
“This morning, I’m pleased to announce that on May 17, 2026, that we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall, to pray, to give thanks, to rededicate America as one nation under God,” the president said.
Trump did not specify why May 17 was selected, however, shortly before the Declaration of Independence, the colonial Congress had declared May 17, 1776, a national day of fasting and prayer.
May 17 also comes a few days after multiple Christian denominations celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ.
Trump also revealed that the Department of Education will be taking steps to protect prayer in public schools.” NY Post
There are 49 days from May 17th to July 4th. Both President George Washington and President Donald Trump have and will hold a day of prayer and fasting on that date. Could that be significant?
Is 49 Days Significant?
May 17 → July 4, 2026
“49 days is very significant in Judaism. The significance comes from the number 49 itself.
The key concept: Counting 49 days
In Judaism, there is a commandment called the Counting of the Omer.
- It begins on the second night of Passover
- It lasts 49 days (7 weeks)
- It ends on the holiday of Shavuot (the 50th day)
Why 49 matters
The number 49 represents:
- 7 × 7 (a “complete” spiritual cycle)
- A period of spiritual preparation and refinement
- In Jewish tradition, it symbolizes moving from:
- Physical freedom (Passover / Exodus)
→ to - Spiritual purpose (receiving the Torah at Shavuot)
- Physical freedom (Passover / Exodus)
Some Jewish teachings also describe:
- 49 “levels” of spiritual growth or impurity, climbed step-by-step during this period.
So is May 17th meaningful?
- May 17 → July 4, 2026 = 49 days is mathematically interesting
- But it is not necessarily tied to the Jewish calendar or any Jewish observance.” by Grok AI March 28, 2026
Answer from Grok: Great question—this is where it gets really interesting.
The 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot shifts each year because it follows the Hebrew calendar, not the Gregorian one. Here are the actual corresponding date ranges:
1776 (the year of the American founding)
- Passover begins: April 22, 1776 (evening)
- Day 1 of the Omer: April 23, 1776
- Day 49: June 10, 1776
- Shavuot begins: evening of June 10, 1776
So the 49-day count runs:
April 23 → June 10, 1776 (The May 17th Omer date fell between the 1776 dates)
2026
- Passover begins: April 1, 2026 (evening)
- Day 1 of the Omer: April 2, 2026
- Day 49: May 20, 2026
- Shavuot begins: evening of May 21, 2026
So the 49-day count runs:
April 2 → May 20, 2026 (The May 17th Omer date will fall between the 2026 dates)
Key takeaway
- The 49-day pattern is consistent, but the calendar dates shift year to year
- In both cases, the count always connects:
- Passover (deliverance/freedom)
→ through 49 days
→ Shavuot (revelation/law)
- Passover (deliverance/freedom)
Interesting historical note
In 1776, the 49-day count ended (June 10) just a few weeks before:
- July 4, 1776 — the Declaration of Independence
Some people find that symbolic (freedom → covenant → national identity), though it’s not a traditional Jewish interpretation—it’s more of a historical or philosophical observation.
Let’s just say it is very interesting in these last days!
Counting of the Omer
Prayer in Schools is back in the United States of America, finally! Read below;
U.S. Department of Education Issues Guidance on Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Schools
“Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) issued guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public elementary and secondary schools.
The guidance, required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to be updated periodically, makes clear that parents and children have a constitutional right to take part in public school in ways that align with their sincerely held religious beliefs. School officials should allow members of the public school community to act and speak according to their faith, as long as:
- They respect the rights of others;
- The school itself does not engage in religious activities or speech as an institution; and
- The school does not favor secular views over religious ones or one religion over another.
“The Trump Administration is proud to stand with students, parents, and faculty who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights in schools across our great nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Our Constitution safeguards the free exercise of religion as one of the guiding principles of our republic, and we will vigorously protect that right in America’s public schools.”
The purpose of this guidance is to provide information on the current state of the law concerning prayer and religious expression in public schools. This updated guidance supersedes and replaces the Department of Education’s Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (2023) issued under the Biden Administration. That document is no longer in effect…
Background:
- In recent years, the Supreme Court has ruled substantively on issues of religious expression and related matters of religious freedom in public schools—most notably in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022) and Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025).
- Today’s guidance involves three key protections under the First Amendment: 1) The right of parents and children to freedom of speech; 2) The right of parents and children to freely practice their religion; and 3) The obligation of public schools to avoid establishing or endorsing religion.
- In addition, this guidance is in accordance with parents’ longstanding constitutional right—recognized under the Fourteenth Amendment—to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
- On February 7, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Faith Office to “honor and enforce the Constitution’s guarantee of religious liberty and to ending any form of religious discrimination by the Federal Government.”
- On May 1, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission “to safeguard and promote America’s founding principle of religious freedom.”
- On September 8, 2025, President Trump previewed today’s guidance during a speech at the Religious Liberty Commission’s hearing on religious liberty in public education.” U.S. Department of Education