As we continue to walk through the coronavirus crisis, we’re approaching the National Day of Prayer.
There’s never been a time when it’s so important to pray for America, but with all the negativity swirling around the politics of our country, many aren’t even sure how to get started.
The first step in praying for the nation is committing to do so. I’d often pondered how important it is to pray for America, but I wasn’t doing it. I had a ton of ideas on how others should pray, but planning a prayer life for someone else is as effective as calling football plays from your couch. Decide you’re going to get off the spiritual bench and do something yourself.
The most important element in developing a spiritual discipline is making a commitment to the process of letting God change you. Once you’ve made that commitment, you want to be sure you remain accountable. Make a covenant with God to pray for the nation, then ask other Christians or your small group to keep you accountable. Here are a few things to keep in mind when praying for America:
1. Worship God for what He’s already done and recognize his sovereignty.
2. Pray the Word of God. The greatest weapon against a partisan mind is scripture. When we pray the Word of God, we can be sure we’re praying in his will.
3. Commit to listening. Prayer is never about changing God, it’s about allowing God to change us.
4. Check your motives. When praying for leaders we don’t agree with, it’s tempting to pray they become more like us. Be sure you’re praying for God’s will, not your own political agenda. If you’re having trouble praying for the current administration (no matter who that may be), consider our article, How to Pray for a President You Can’t Stand.
5. Use our free resources like The Praying Patriot Worksheets and our Prayer Guide for the Nation to help focus your prayers.
6. Ask God how He wants you to pray before you pray. A focus on who He is and His will can do wonders for our attitude in prayer. Ask God how He wants to transform you by praying for America.
When you’re ready, make a declaration of prayer. Let God know you’re willing to be engaged. You can use the prayer below or create your own. To learn more about praying for our nation, we encourage you to consider a copy of our book, American Psalms: Prayers for the Christian Patriot.
A DECLARATION OF PRAYER
Father God, you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords.(1) Your Kingdom is sovereign above all others; yours is the Kingdom of Glory, which will reign in
righteousness for eternity.
I pray our nation would be a light to the world, that it might see your Kingdom in us.
You have commanded us to pray for those who are in authority, (2) because there is no government that has not been appointed by you. (3) I am grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to share in the liberty and freedom you have bestowed upon the United States.
I confess that our nation can be prideful; our pride should be in your abilities, not our own. We can not succeed without your grace and blessing. For you have said:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV84)
I will call upon your name; I will humble myself before you for the sake of my walk with Christ, and for the sake of my country.
I will call upon your name for the sake of our leaders, for the sake of our citizens and for the sake of our future. I ask that you would hear my prayers and restore our nation. Send the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin (4) and call other believers to join in prayer for America. I pray you will hear our cries from heaven and fulfill your promise to heal our land.
Because you have commanded me to pray and because I have a heart for this nation, I commit myself to this course of action; I will lift up the United States and her leaders to you in prayer. I will remember that it is you alone who grants liberty and freedom. I will put aside my own bias and political views so that I may pray for our leaders to become more like you, instead of judging them for not being more like me.
I thank you for this great country you have allowed me to be a part of. May your light be seen from the shores of America throughout the world.
AMEN.
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1 I Timothy 6:15
2 I Timothy 2:1-3
3 Romans 13:1
4 John 16:8-11
ADDITIONAL POSTS AND PRAYERS
How to Start Praying for America
A Prayer Amid the Corona Virus
A Prayer for Our President
A Prayer for America’s Freedom
A Prayer for America (National Day of Prayer)
How to Pray for a President You Can’t Stand
Fasting: What Christians Should Know
Amen. How we need to pray fervently for our country, for God’s will in all of us.
Thank you, Barbara. I agree. This is the time to set aside our politics and seek God without ceasing. Thank you for joining us.
Thanks for sending out a call to pray for America. That is heavy on my heart right now too. I pray that somehow God stirs the hearts of His people to return to Him soon.
Yes, Joanna. I join you in that prayer
Such a powerful reminder of why we pray for our nation and such a beautiful look into a pastoral heart that truly loves the Lord and seeks his will and his blessing on our nation.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV84). Amen. Please do so, Lord Jesus.
Joshua, I love praying the Word of God. I shared 2 Chronicles 7:14 recently. Your declaration of prayer is so powerful, love this that followed that verse, “I will call upon your name; I will humble myself before you for the sake of my walk with Christ, and for the sake of my country.” Amen!
Thank you for that well thought through and timely post. I appreciate the emphasis on prayer. I work with missionaries around the world and God is working not just here, but across the globe. I am grateful for the encouragement of this post to engage in praying for this nation.
Sylvia, Thank you for your work to bring the hope of Christ around the globe. I appreciate your heart for prayer. May we see revival in America and throughout the world.
Josh is thank you so much for this and for listing helpful resources
Pràyers
Jevia Lyn
You are welcome, Jevia Lyn. Thank you for praying for our nation.
Joshua, I just bought your ebook so I’ll have it available for this week. Thank you for preparing this for us.
Kathy, I’m so grateful and pray the book will be an encouragement to you. Please consider writing an honest review wherever you purchased the book.
You’re so right about how we think praying for our nation is important, but we don’t do it. Let’s get to it. Amen!
Thank you, Nancy. May the Lord convict each of us to be in prayer for His will in this nation and in our leaders.
Well said my friend. Especially important is ensuring that we are praying for God’s will, not our own agenda or political slant. Also important, is that we remember who we are. We are ambassadors of Christ. And while we may have differing opinions on a great many things, and we have the freedom of choice (and liberty for now) to express our opinions, how we do it is important. We don’t have to tear down others to build ourselves up. We can respectfully agree to disagree. In doing so, we maintain the important characteristics of Christ that show up as fruit of the Spirit in our lives.Great message and wonderful model for prayer my friend.
That is so beautifully said, brother. I am so encouraged by your words and pray that we might all take heed of the attitude Christ has called us to in prayer.