Let's Not Forget the Weekly Day of Prayer

My_ quiet wife really surprised me yesterday.  As the following letter to a Christian radio station manager shows, she was moved to write to address a concern. I'll let the letter speak for itself.  Just thought I'd share it with you so you could join me in saying "Amen!"  _

  
Thank you for your programming. We are fairly new to the area and I've tuned in a few times. Since I've only listened occasionally I cannot comment specifically on your programming, but did want to address something I just heard this morning. Please understand I've never written an email or letter like this before. My heart was burdened to do so today.  
  
I tuned in to hear the tail end of your segment on the National Day of Prayer. I listened as men and women earnestly prayed for our country. We, as a nation, have indeed largely turned from faithfully following Jesus Christ, and are in desperate need of His help. But how can we expect Him to honor us when we, as His people, are unwilling to honor Him in many ways?  
  
What troubles my heart is the disregard that many who would call themselves followers of Christ have for keeping His Day. A troubling example of this is what I heard on your station this morning as the announcer spoke of the "triple-header" going on in Pittsburgh this Sunday. He went on to mention the marathon and two other large sporting events in a way that seemed to encourage the participation of listeners in this exciting sports-filled day.  
  
What has become of honoring Christ on His Day?  Setting aside the distractions and pleasures of this world for one day, in order to spend this day as our God designed and desires?  What might be His response if we humbled ourselves and repented of this sin of not keeping His day holy, and sought to use this one day in seven for His sake and not our own?  What might be the response of the watching world?  He desires for us to worship and to rest, and to perform such acts of mercy as are spoken of over and over in the Old Testament and New - for our good and His glory!  We are, in large measure, "putting in our time" at church (unless there might be a sporting event that would take precedence that morning) and spending the rest of the day doing as we please.  Please consider the following verses from the book of Isaiah, and so many others like them that speak of honoring Christ on His Day:  
  
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord ’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13, 14 NIV)  
  
Praying for our eyes to be opened to this vital and foundational truth once again, and for hearts to be moved to respond out of love for our Savior and Lord.  
  
For our good and His glory.  
  
Sincerely in the love of Christ our Lord,  
  
Miriam York