Prayer for America
The Power of Prayer
Since our nation's first days, God's greatest movements in our midst have been fashioned and sustained by prayer, from the signing of our earliest documents, to our triumphs over days of darkness, to the spiritual awakenings that have sustained our faith and resolve for centuries. Throughout Scripture and throughout our history as a nation, persistent, prevailing, intentional, and never-ending prayer has always brought the presence of God.
How vast are the possibilities when we pray! Prayer is a wonderful power placed by the almighty God into the hands of His saints. When we humbly seek his face in prayer, He is moved to act on our behalf and accomplish His desires for us.
PRAYER FOR AMERICA
Lord,
We cry out to You with hearts that need Your blessings. Give us wisdom to make the right decisions that will bring honor to You and will purify our hearts. Let the words that we speak draw us closer to Your presence. We recognize, O Lord, that You are in control of all things. Help this nation to hear Your voice, protect us from evil, and lead us in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake.
Hear a just cause, O Lord,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. . . .
Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. . . .
That my footsteps may not slip.
–PSALM 17:1–2, 5
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Lord,
You are the Creator of the universe—we praise your blessed and holy name! You alone are the provider of all things, and with you all things are possible—may you always be lifted up! Let us live each day in the center of your will and live for your glory. Let all men praise your holy name, for you are a marvelous God, and your light shines over all who choose to call you Lord.
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . . .
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
–PSALM 34:1, 3
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Lord,
Your loving kindness is new every day. May we forever trust in you with all our hearts and find rest in the shelter of your love. The very life we live comes from you alone. Bless us, O Lord, with the light of your presence and place within us the desire to share your light so that others may come to know the saving grace of our Lord and Savior.
How precious is Your loving kindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
–PSALM 36:7–9
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Father,
You have given us a guide for life and have asked us to meditate in your Word day and night. Place that desire within our hearts—give us a hunger for your Word, that we may know You. Lord, you want us to be successful in life and to be prosperous in all that we do. Lead us back to your Word that we may honor you through all that we say and do.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. –JOSHUA 1:8
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O Lord,
Let us never forget to praise your holy name. You are a wonderful God. You are slow to anger and patient, with an unconditional love that has no end. Let us bless you each day and lift up our thanks in praise for the wonderful things You have done for us.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
–PSALM 63:3–5
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Lord,
Our nation needs Your guidance and direction. We humbly ask that your Spirit intercede with the leaders of the nation, giving them the wisdom to make decisions that will honor you. We pray fervently for peace both here and abroad. Let us live with reverence for you and with peace in our hearts for our fellow man. We know this is your desire.
I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
–1 TIMOTHY 2:1–3
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O Lord,
Strengthen our faith. Help us never to doubt your Word or your faithfulness. Lift us up that we may boldly proclaim your truth each and every day. Let us be sensitive to the leading of your Spirit and never forget that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Jesus answered and said to [His disciples], “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
–MATTHEW 21:21–22
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Father,
True wisdom is a gift that only you, Lord, can give. May we always be in right standing with you. Let the words we speak honor you, and let us never speak your name in vain. Let us stay steadfast and live in such a way that your light will shine through us wherever we go.
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
–PSALM 37:30–31
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Lord,
You are so wonderful. Thank you for caring about our burdens. Open our hearts to your Spirit and let us listen to your voice. Strengthen us, O God, with confidence in you, that we may live for you and glorify your name.
Draw us close to you that we may see your glory.
Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
–PSALM 55:22
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Lord,
There are so many times when we have burdens almost too heavy to bear. Our nation faces hardships and pain; we need your wisdom and help in all areas. Strengthen us as a people and lead us in the way that will bring honor and glory to you.
Lord, you have promised that if we humble ourselves and seek your face and pray, you will heal our land. May we forever be humble in your sight, and may we experience your blessings in the midst of our great need.
Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily.
–PSALM 55:1–2
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Lord,
We come to you with open hearts and ask that you speak to our spirits with words of wisdom and direction, that we may know how you wish for us to pray. Help Your humble servants to speak words of praise and adoration, for you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Teach us, Lord, that we may know you and the power of your resurrection. Fill us with your presence and forgive our shortcomings.
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” –LUKE 11:1
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Father,
We recognize that there are those who would speak evil against you when hardship knocks at their door. Let us forever stand firm in the foundation of our faith. Let us live in the center of your will.
We will come to you each day for strength and endurance. Help us, O God, to be the people you wish us to be, for we trust in you.
Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to you, When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of your wings.
PSALM 61:1-4
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Lord,
We praise you for your grace, mercy, and loving kindness. May we as a nation look to you with thanksgiving in our hearts for the blessings you have poured upon us. Let us forever rest in the shadow of your wings and shout for joy with praise, for you are a most gracious God, and you bless us even beyond our understanding.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
–PSALM 63:3–4, 7
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Father,
We thank you for hearing our petition. Strengthen us by the power of your spirit to live in such a way that glorifies you. Forgive us when we do things that displace you and separate us from your presence. Lead us each day, that we might live a life that is pleasing to you. May you forever be praised.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity….
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. … Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong…Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know by thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph…
With thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace – a peace invulnerable to the scheming of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. – D-Day, June 6, 1944
The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
PSALM 6:9
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Father
Through Jesus Christ we have an open invitation to come to you in prayer. We give thanks for this blessing and each day find joy in all that you give to us. What a blessed people we are to know and embrace your unconditional love.
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
–PSALM 4:1
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O Lord,
We lift our voices and praise your holy name! May you forever be the center of our thoughts, that in all things we may lift you up in worship and song. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be a sweet aroma to you, for you are our King—our joy comes from you!
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.
–PSALM 104:33–34
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Lord,
We bow before you in humble thanksgiving for your gifts of power and strength, fortitude and might! We pray for our nation to remain firm and steadfast in the knowledge of your truth and the promise of the victory that is ours through Christ, who loves us.
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man . . . to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. –EPHESIANS 3:14–16, 19
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Father,
May your love flow through and around us. Speak to our hearts and open our minds that we may see you and the light of your glory. Help us as a nation to be a discerning people with moral voices who bring honor and glory to you, O God.
This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. –PHILIPPIANS 1:9–10
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Father,
We humbly come before you and ask that your Spirit reach across the lands to all who are hurting and spiritually lost. Restore their hearts with hope everlasting; comfort them with your tender, loving arms. May we be sensitive to their needs, whether physical or spiritual, and be eager and willing to share your love for them.
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints.
–COLOSSIANS 1:3–4
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Father,
We exalt our praise and adoration to you all throughout the day and night! May we never forget that you are merciful and gracious, and that you, our Creator, receive our devotion and prayers with an attentive, listening ear.
Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. –PSALM 55:17
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Father,
Your Word says that if we delight ourselves in you, You will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). Please direct our paths in your ways everlasting so that your will becomes our desire, so that your way becomes our delight. Fill us with the power of your presence and bind us together as a people of one nation under God.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. –PROVERBS 15:8