Is there any value to prayer? Is there really a God who hears us? The Bible says, “If my people will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

It sounds to me like God hears our prayers, but He also cares about the way that we live and the attitudes of our hearts. Thursday, May 6, is the National Day of Prayer, and it looks like our country is in desperate need of help from above!

There are two community events in Tehachapi on the National Day of Prayer. At noon, there will be a one-hour prayer rally in front of City Hall, 115 S. Robinson St. Rallygoers will sing songs led by Pastor Ken Burton of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, ask forgiveness and thank God for His many blessings. Afterward, seven local pastors will lead a prayer for our nation’s families, education, businesses, media, government, military and churches.

At 7 p.m., there will be an All-City Church Service at Summit Christian Fellowship, 414 S. Curry St. Caleb Hairston of Blue Mountain Tribe will lead the group in songs of praise and worship, and this year we will be reading an apology to Native Americans for mistreatment and broken covenants by the United States. This apology was a joint resolution of Congress back in 2009, but it has never been publicly expressed to Native Americans. We hope that people from many tribes will attend that we may sincerely apologize to them. Pastor John Wold will bring a message from the Bible, and then seven local pastors will again lead the group in prayer for the nation. The meetings will be Christian, but we invite people of all faiths to join us to cry out to God for the United States of America.