[Darris McNeely] The scene behind me is one that was taken back in September, on the Mall, the National Mall in Washington D.C., at a time when there was a national call to prayer. "Beyond Today" was there to observe and to report on what was taking place. You look at this picture and you can make out the Washington Monument on the other side of that tree there. And this is about midway down on the Washington Mall there. And if you look very closely, you will see people praying, little clumps of people under the trees, and walking, and streaming by. Tens of thousands of people came that day in an answer to come for a day of prayer. People were there because they knew something was wrong with America.

I talked about this in a recent BT Daily and actually a "Beyond Today" program recently on this as well as to what took place with this gathering of people. It was actually quite peaceful. I was there. Felt quite safe at a time in America when big crowds had been gathering and you couldn't always feel safe where those crowds were, but I did that day. On the National Mall, people came for prayer.

The point I was making recently was just a few months later on January 6th, 2021, another crowd was gathered on this Mall, and a different purpose came out of it and a different result. That was the day that they stormed the United States Capitol and several people were killed in that. Quite a difference.

My point in going back to this is to reiterate the point of what happens when people at least turn their hearts to prayer. There is a movement toward peace. Not a lot did come out of this. The nation hasn't repented. There hasn't been a return to God. But at least it was a peaceful demonstration. And as I looked into the eyes of those people there that day, and look at this picture today, it reminds me of what I saw, it was American citizens coming because they want some solutions. They see that there are big problems in America.

Prayer is a big part of our lives. And if we're going to understand what is taking place in America right now, we all need to be turning ourselves to God and understanding what His Word tells us about a right relationship with Him and what righteousness can do when people obey God.

That's BT Daily. Join us next time.