You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)
O Lord,
We have set our cities ablaze and laid siege to our own capitol.
I am heartbroken by the fruit of our hatred.
My confidence is crushed under the weight of America’s division.
But You hear those who call out to you, drawing close to the brokenhearted and restoring the crushed in spirit.[i]
You are our hope.
In the darkness of our chaos, I recall Your promise.
“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.”[ii]
I will call upon Your name for the sake of our leaders, for the sake of our citizens and for the sake of our country. Send the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin[iii] that You might restore our nation.
Give us a heart of repentance.
We have become a people that condemn, but You are the God of restoration.[iv]
We have embraced hatred for one another, but You are the God of unity.[v]
We have justified violence, but You are the God of peace.[vi]
We have made politics our idol, but You are the only true God.[vii]
Let us be forever watchful of our hearts, that we may not blindly fall into the slavery of sin and pride. For the sin of this nation is the sin of its people being dragged away by our own selfish desires.[viii]
May the tragedy of this week shake the spirit of our current and future presidents—and all those who serve our nation to the remembrance of Your sovereignty above their own.
And may it draw me to seek You in a deeper, more sincere prayer life that prays for our leaders rather than against them.[ix]
So, transform my thinking where my heart is wrong.[x] Let the change I want to see in this nation start with the refining of my own character.
Open our eyes to You, Lord. Let the skies above our land be a reminder of Your hand in creation.[xi] Let its beauty direct us, with thankful hearts, toward Your will in America.
And as we’re reminded of Your glory, let us seek only truth—not the manipulated self-serving truth from the left or right, but the unchanging truth of the One who authors it.
For though we try to go our own way, You are the only Way.
Though we try to embrace lies, You are the only Truth.
Though we destroy life, You restore Life.[xii]
Where there seems to be no answer, teach us Your wisdom.[xiii]
Teach us to encourage and build one another up.[xiv]
Teach us to love those we call our enemies.[xv]
Teach us to speak out for the oppressed.[xvi]
Teach us how to forgive as we seek Your forgiveness.[xvii]
Teach us to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.[xviii]
And may that lead to a revival of faith and healing in America.
For our nation cannot be the city on a hill to this world
Until its people are the city on a hill in Your Word.[xix]
Amen.
[i] Psalm 34:15-16
[ii] 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV84)
[iii] John 16:8-11
[iv] 1 Peter 5:10
[v] Acts 4:32
[vi] 2 Thessalonians 3:16
TWEETABLES:
I am heartbroken by the events at our #CapitolBuilding and ask you to join me in this scripture-based #PRAYER TO HEAL #AMERICA by @JoshuaJMasters <><> CLICK: Click To Tweet A #PRAYER TO HEAL #AMERICA (And a Call to Repentance) by @JoshuaJMasters <><> #CapitolBuilding #Congress <><> CLICK: Click To Tweet.
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
Lord Lord God Almighty hear the cries of many who are truly humbling themselves before you seeking Your face as we acknowledge to You Lord the sins of our nation and the sins of Your people, whom we are Lord, we are Yours. You Lord have called us by Your name, the name that is above all names, the ONLY name that is ALL POWERFUL, and worthy of ALL our praise!!! Lord God Almighty You, who are the creator of all that is good , true and full of light and love! let the power of the fire of your spirit fall upon your people your church let the Bride of Christ be that which Lord you desire without spot without blemish without wrinkle for that’s what you are coming back for! so Lord deepen our love for you to truly love You with my whole heart and forgive us for being complacent and lazy and not standing up for what is right help us Lord to know Your ways and to be obedient to you Lord . Heal our nation again Lord! remove those Lord who are trying to take us down even further on that of darkness and evil….trying to shut us up and keep us from speaking forth Your truth of Your word trying to banish your people from being able to speak what needs to be heard…. Your words … Your life , for You are the only way, You are the only truth and you are the only life Lord!!! let us walk as You would have us to walk allowing You to be who You Lord desire to be in us, the greater one , for You are that greater One in us than he that is in the world….
JJ, such a prayer. It touches me on a level words can’t share. I pray to be a conduit for Him, not a means to an end, but rather a funnel. I pray the Holy Spirit reaches through us to reach others. May God’s word continue to flow through you and because of you, my friend. In Him, amen!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words, my friend. I pray that we will all be drawn to a deeper place of prayer and become a reflection of His hope and compassion.
Thank you for this prayer, Pastor Joshua. I hope and pray that we all can be a change agent and with God’s guidance, be a catalyst for peace, love, and justice. We can make a difference!
Amen, Katherine. That is so beautifully said. May we all embrace being a light to this broken world.
Amen! Thank you for your awesome prayer filled with so much truth!
You’re welcome, Stephanie. Thank you for the encouraging words.
Bingo!! Atta boy!
Haversack History at your service.
Thank you, Warren. I appreciate your support.
Amen amen!! “And as we’re reminded of Your glory, let us seek only truth—not the manipulated self-serving truth from the left or right, but the unchanging truth of the One who authors it.” Love this. I join you in prayer.
Thank you so much, Jessica. I’m so grateful for your encouragement
So needed at a time like this. May we remember that we fight a spiritual battle that must be won by spiritual weapons. Thank you for sharing this prayer for our country.
That is so well said, Barbara. Amen.
I have been intensely praying 2Chronicles 7:14 for months, but I have prayed the verse for years as I watched America slide into apathy, even hostility, toward God.
Thank you for your faithfulness in praying, Linda. I know it can be discouraging when the nation continues to walk away from God, but Is not silent. Just as the apostles prayed under the oppression of Rome and Daniel prayed in captivity… we know God will be victorious.
Thank you Lord God for hearing our prayers for this nation. Continue to have mercy on us. Humble our hearts and fill us with your love and may that love be emitting out of us as we share the true truth with others about Jesus. All glory belongs to you Lord who reigns supreme over all of your creation and in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
That is a beautiful prayer, Mike. Thank you so much. I stand in prayer with you and say, “Amen.”
Hear our prayer dear Lord. Amen.
Thank you, Karen. I join you in crying out to God.
“Vengeance is Yours Lord. If they are not Americans, then help us to banish them from the halls of freedom. If they are not true Christians, then help us to show them how a true follower of Christ behaves in all ways. Let us not condemn them, but pray Your mercy upon them so they might repent and be reborn in Your Spirit. In Jesus’ precious and Holy name we pray.”
Amen, J.D. May we all be reflections of Christ’s mercy and compassion to a broken nation and a broken world.