National Day of Prayer: President Trump and CBN Join Prayer Effort

CBN News staff have been praying as we've covered Hurricane Harvey. Above is a prayer effort we recorded to share with you. Below is a Facebook prayer time with CBN's Gordon Robertson on this National Day of Prayer. Watch, pray and share.  We know where two or more are gathered the Lord Jesus is in our midst and there is power in His Name.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended church services Sunday morning at St. John's Church near the White House. This is the first time the president has visited the Episcopal church, popularly referred to as "the Church of the Presidents," since becoming commander-in-chief.

Mr. Trump and the First Lady reportedly sat in the "president's pew" for the first time.

Afterwards, Mrs. Trump tweeted, "Beautiful service today at St. John's. @potus and I wishing you many blessings on this National Day of Prayer."

St. John's joined other churches across the nation, like Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, in a special National Day of Prayer in the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

During Cornerstone's Sunday morning worship service, Pastor John Hagee dedicated a prayer for all Texans who had been "disadvantaged" or "destroyed" by the storm, reminding his megachuch congregants that they are "totally dependent" on God. 

"We pray for all of our friends in the city of Houston, in Rockport, [and] in every city of the south part of this state," Hagee, Cornerstone's senior pastor, said. "Some have lost every possession that they have. Some are in debt for those worthless possessions. Some have lost their health. Some have lost their lives."

"I ask you to look from the balconies of heaven today and to comfort the brokenhearted," Hagee continued. "I ask you, God, to restore what Satan has taken from the righteous and give it back to them many times over. I ask for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding to flood our hearts and minds, because his peace is greater than the storm."

Evangelist Franklin Graham wrote on his Facebook page Sunday, "The Bible encourages us, 'Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need' (Hebrews 4:16)."

"Will you pray for all those who are homeless today?" he asked. "Thousands and thousands have lost their homes and everything they own."

"Especially today, let us pray for those who lost loved ones as a result of this deadly storm," Graham continued. "They have suffered unbelievable loss — may God comfort them."

Dr. Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, wrote, "Please join our church in prayer for the victims of #HurricaneHarvey, our state, and our nation on this National Day of Prayer." A picture of church leadership and congregants bowing their heads in prayer accompanied the post.

President Trump declared Sunday to be a "National Day of Prayer," late last week – joining with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has also called on Texans to pray for recovery efforts after the historic storm.

"We are deeply grateful for those performing acts of service, and we pray for healing and comfort for those in need," the president's proclamation reads.

"As response and recovery efforts continue, and as Americans provide much-needed relief to the people of Texas and Louisiana, we are reminded of Scripture's promise that 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,'" the proclamation states.

"I call on all Americans and houses of worship throughout the Nation to join in one voice of prayer, as we seek to uplift one another and assist those suffering from the consequences of this terrible storm," Trump continued.

Meanwhile, the governor of Texas also called on his fellow Texans and people around the country to pray for the Lone Star State on Sunday.

Abbott issued a proclamation calling for an official day of prayer for Texans "of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds."

Sunday, Gov. Abbott spoke at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin. He praised the many faith-based groups that are bringing relief and spiritual comfort to the flood victims. He also said this is a time not just to pray for God's help, but to give thanks for His mercies.

"So, this is a time for prayer for those in need, this is a time for prayers for those who have been lost. It's also a prayer of thanksgiving to God Almighty for uniting us as a nation and for helping us respond together," Abbott said.

The governor is also urging people to pray for the safety of first responders, public safety officers and military personnel involved in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

He's also calling for prayers for the "healing of individuals, rebuilding of communities and the restoration of the entire region struck by this disaster."

Abbott applauded Texans for helping each other through the ordeal and noted they are grateful for the support and resources they've received in the days since Harvey struck.

The Church Project in the Woodlands is one of the churches making a difference in their Houston community. Pastor Jason Shepperd told CBN News that some 1,200 people have signed up to volunteer through the church.

Flood victims Airrion and Sherry Fontenot are blessed by those volunteers. The couple's home was flooded with two feet of water and they said going through their damaged belongings with their three daughters was heartwrenching.

"Going to the house was the hardest, because, I mean, the memories," Sherry told CBN News, "but the people that showed up, they made it better. They helped us walk through and honestly I didn't have to lift a finger in that house to do anything."

Airrion said the volunteers turned things around for them. "When I got there and just saw the generosity and the grace and God's love for the people, it was amazing, it was an amazing thing."