“If we do not pray, we will soon not recognize our nation,” says Dave Butts, chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee. “We need to ask for the intervention of God.”

While attending the World Prayer Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May, Butts sensed a strong challenge from God that he is to devote much of his time before the November elections to the message that the United States desperately needs a season of 40 days of continuous prayer.  As he prayed and worshipped with 9,000 other prayer leaders, the conviction grew stronger for Butts—something he was not expecting as he attended the world prayer gathering.

The burden he felt was in turn confirmed by other believers from various countries (China, India, Egypt, Malaysia), who approached him with the same message: The world is praying about the elections in November; when are believers in the United States going to get serious and join in fervent prayer for their nation?

Launch of 40 Days in September

As a result, Butts is urging 40 days of continuous prayer from September 28 to the national elections on November 6.  This is a call for Christians to pray day and night, perhaps joining with other churches in their community or with other prayer movements that already exist.

“Everyone needs to do something,” Butts says, acknowledging that there are many 40-day prayer guides and initiatives already in existence—and that God is not leading him to create something new. For Butts, the point is for all believers to get involved in some way—however God might lead their church or ministry.

“We need to pray like we’ve never prayed before,” he says. He believes it will be an unprecedented prayer movement in the United States that will continue far beyond the elections.

There are three areas of prayer that Butts believes are critical to the 40 days: 1) for the elections, 2) that a standard of righteousness will be raised up over the nation, and 3) for revival of the Church.  He also emphasizes that this call to prayer is not intended to be a political statement.

An informational website has been established that will track organized 40-day prayer efforts around the nation. To connect with or report on 40-day initiatives in your area, go to 40daysofprayer.net.

(C) 2012 Prayer Connect magazine. To subscribe to Prayer Connect, click here.