Back in the days when I used to read an actual morning newspaper, the kind that got delivered to my door or driveway, or somewhere close to either of them, I almost always checked out the little column that told me what was special about the day. I remember where it listed whose birthday it was, and what happened in history on whatever day of the year it was.

I no longer get a physical newspaper so I’m not sure if the column is still there. Instead, I get little messages that pop up, or Lorraine gets them and tells me, “Oh, so-and-so's birthday is today. Do you believe she is that old?” There are websites for this kind of thing, too.

Every day is, well, special.

Today, for example, July 9, is Collector Car Appreciation Day and National Sugar Cookie Day. It’s also Courtney Love’s birthday. It is the day that then Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten announced their engagement. It is the day that David Kelley and Allison Sipek will be married at College Church (I mean, literally, today). Perhaps most practical and momentous of all, in 1872 on this day, John Blondel was granted doughnut cutter patents that would make possible the mass production of the treat with a hole in its center.

We don’t remember who John Blondel was, but we live with his innovation a little happier than we would be without it.

Besides tomorrow being the day for Sunday worship, it is also National Kitten Day (I’m allergic), Pick Blueberries Day (where is the patch?), and most important of all, the beginning of National Doughnut Week and Krispy Kreme’s 85th birthday (ready for both).

Later this month, on July 21, we get National Junk Food Day. That’s what actually started this. Lorraine announced earlier in the week that she had gotten notice about this on her phone. And it made me think back to the morning newspaper ritual and I started thinking about, among other things, surprise, doughnuts.

Whatever day we’re in, and whatever we may face this day, one thing is certain: today is a day that should include prayer. God is the companion we ought not to neglect, yet so easily do.

We don’t need to hold a convention. We don’t need to even have a meeting with some friends to join us. Such days do exist and focus our prayers on a particular need or area of prayer. But today ought to be a day of prayer for each of us in some way.

In the summer book group this week, we talked about the chapter “Prayer Isn’t a Moment; It’s a Way of Life” in the book Wisdom from the Ancients. We talked about the Muslim calls to pray during the day and the early church rhythms of prayer throughout the day, stopping to pray at fixed times every day, not just morning, noon and night. We looked at Jesus’s words of warning about praying like Pharisees. We talked about whether to write or not write out prayers or to read printed prayers. We considered the biblical admonition to pray without ceasing. And then, before the night ended, we did it. We prayed.

Today is our chance to talk to the God of the universe and the Savior who is right here in the room, closer than we can ever imagine. It doesn't have to be long or difficult. The Spirit is right here. We can turn to him with whatever is before us. And if we are tempted to sin, how much more difficult is the little or big fall, how much easier the flight from temptation, if we are already open and speaking to the One who will never forsake us. If we are facing a storm or it's an ordinary Saturday, we sheep have access to the Shepherd.

J.C. Ryle in his book Do You Pray? says “I beg you, let us keep a constant watch upon our private devotions. Here is the heart of the matter, the real backbone of our Christianity. Sermons, books, church meetings, singing praises to God and the company of other Christians are all good things in their way, but they will never make up the chasm that opens up if we neglect private prayer.”

I’d love to keep going, but I’m going to stop. You don’t need to read any more of my words but do spend a few extra moments today directing more of your own words toward the lover of our souls. Write them out or say them out loud. Or say them silently, not to yourself, but to Jesus, the one who is nearer than we can imagine, the one who intercedes. Pray for the people you meet, before or after you meet them. I have been trying to remember to not tell someone I’ll pray for them, but to just pray right then and there.

Go ahead. Do it. We don't have to tell God what to do; there is a certain level of absurdity in that, but we certainly are welcome to say anything and everything. This is an amazing gift open to us. Be mindful of it during the day. Pray every time you sink your teeth into a doughnut or pick blueberries or pet a cat or go to a wedding. Everything we do can be a celebration of turning to the Lord in prayer.

Today, after all, is International Day of Prayer to the One and Only God Who Died for Us, Rose Again, and Loves Us All the Time.