Today is the annual National Day of Prayer in America!
What a blessing that every year millions of people across our nation on the first Thursday in May to join together in prayer for the land—and the people—we love.
Whether they gather at one of the hundreds of prayer events around the country, or watch the livestream (on Thursday evening, May 4, 2023 at 8 p.m. Eastern on the NDP website and on many Christian radio and TV stations), or pray in small groups or alone, it is a time to call upon our great God to help and heal our nation.
The National Day of Prayer website provides a wealth of information about the event.
Here are some suggestions they provide for why we pray for America—with added practical lists on what to pray for specifically.
WHY PRAY FOR AMERICA?
God is sovereign and nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Whether we face fluctuating economics, threats from abroad, unrest at home, or other troubling circumstances, our Heavenly Father is not caught unaware.
Through prayer, we are able to tap into His wisdom, strength, protection, and peace. He stands ready to respond to our needs when we humbly ask for divine intervention in the affairs of men.
As we Pray for America whose pledge of allegiance recounts that we are “one nation under God”… and we want Americans to encounter the God who rules over their country.
“He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, He who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth—the LORD God Almighty is His name.”
—Amos 4:13 NIV
He is the One who gave us this promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “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 I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
As we humbly and diligently seek Him, we’ll be changed, and we’ll see transformation in America through prayer!
HOW TO PRAY FOR AMERICA
PRAY FOR SEVEN (7) CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN OUR NATION
1. GOVERNMENT
Pray for your leaders, as well as the judges in our courts. Ask God to grant them wisdom to act with integrity. (I Kings 3:28; I Timothy 2:1-2; Exodus 18:21; Proverbs 11:3; Romans 13:1-2)
Federal Government
Consider praying for our President, Vice President, Cabinet Members, Congressional Leaders, Supreme Court Justices
State Government
Consider praying for your Governor, Executive Leaders, Legislative Leaders, Judicial Leaders
Local Government
Consider praying for your Mayor, City Counsel, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Judges, County Officials
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Provide leaders with wise and godly counselors who will provide honest wisdom and encouragement
• Well up humility in the hearts of leaders to make apologies or adjustments when these things are necessary
• Lord, pour out a spirit of cooperation between elected leaders
• Break down the barriers that are built up by selfish ambition for personal power
2. MILITARY
Perseverance to endure hardship (Isaiah 43:2; Deuteronomy 31:6)
Wise leaders who inspire respect from those under their command (Romans 13:1)
Protection and support for the families they have left behind (Romans 1:8-10)
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Pray for the leaders to make wise and righteous decisions based on biblical principles rather than personal career gains
• Lord, help all military personnel see You working in their daily lives, that You are with them, whether they are in the field, at home, or abroad
• Remove stigmas for seeking medical attention for mental and physical needs
• God, hold the families of service members close, and may they look to You for the strength and peace that only You can give
• Comfort the spouses who are separated due to military jobs—keep these marriages strong
3. MEDIA
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Lord, encourage the believers who are called to use their creative gifts to glorify You and cultivate a culture of concern for one another
• Teach us to use the news as prayer prompts and ideas for how to serve our local community
• Pour out wisdom for people who bring funding to entertainment media to fund things that are wholesome and speak the truth of God
• Send creativity for artists to create thought-provoking works of art and entertainment that point towards Your redemptive plan for humanity
• Strengthen the Christians in these spheres to boldly stand for Biblical truth in the writer’s rooms, board meetings and creative processes
4. BUSINESS
For areas that need an economic boost (Psalm 132:15).
For Christian workers to display Christ-like humility and service to their co-workers.
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• May each business leader be of great character: of integrity, humbleness of spirit and heart, honest in speech and actions, empathetic and vulnerable.
• Lord, raise up a workforce that is filled with a spirit of excellence and unity in all they do
5. EDUCATION
For a safe atmosphere conductive to learning
Excellence in educators (Exodus 18:20-21)
Equal opportunities for every student to achieve their full potential (Philippians 1:9)
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• To stir the hearts of parents to take an active role in the academic, spiritual, and emotional formation of their children
• Guide school boards to be wise in choosing curriculums that uphold the truth of the Word
• Set young people free from the hopelessness, despair, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and substance abuse
• Bless teachers with an outpouring of grace and endurance of such magnitude it overflows onto their students, their schools, and their communities
6. CHURCH
For the church would find a new zeal and commitment to the mission and purpose of Jesus Christ (Matt 22:37)
Unity with and among churches that reveal God’s love to the world (John 17:23)
Integrity–that God’s people look and act differently from the world (I Peter 2:11; 1 Corinthians 13:6)
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• God, use Your Church as a beacon of light and joy to a world that is searching for answers
• Jesus, give your pastors keen wisdom and insight that is in tune with your Spirit so they would never lose sight of the mission of Your Church
• Lord, open hearts in the church to care for people outside the church, to be praying for them and to become visibly and tangibly concerned and helping them in needs and struggles
• Remind us to eagerly look for ways to use our time, talents, and treasures to build up the Body of Christ
7. FAMILY
Unity and love in individual families that reach out in hospitality toward others (Romans 12:9-13)
Establish healthy relationships between parents and children (Malachi 4:5-6)
Suggestions for WHAT to pray
• Wisdom in choosing a spouse; to be equally yoked together in faith
• Grant us humility, and with that humility bring stability and peace to families
• Give husbands and wives the grace to consider each other before self
• Endurance for single parents or grandparents stepping in as parents
• Comfort for families moving forward through grief
• Strengthen families who also serve as caretakers for medically fragile family members
• Give empty-nest parents comfort in transition and the vision to grasp their new role as full-time intercessors for adult kids
• Harmony in blended families
• Create a means of escape and healing from harmful family dynamics
Finally, from the National Day of Prayer website, here is the 2023 Prayer for America:
2023 National Prayer For America
We come with fervent hearts to praise You Lord.
You are The Word, the Way, Truth and Life.
The Alpha and Omega, Lion of Judah, Almighty God
who was, and is, and is to come.
You clothed Yourself in flesh and dwelt among us, to remove
our sin and clothe us in Your righteousness that
we might dwell with You forever and ever.
With broken, humbled hearts we repent of our
sins. Confessing to You our faithlessness,
prayerlessness, and disobedience.
Forgive us for our doubt, our prideful and quarrelsome words
that reveal our unclean hearts.
Cleanse us and renew a right and steadfast spirit within us we
pray.
With grateful hearts we thank You fervently for
the blessings in our life and throughout
America; they are more than we are able to
count.
We will remember Your grace and testify
to Your goodness in all generations.
Help us to refrain from complaining, but instead be
prompted to pray faithfully in every
circumstance. Teach us to have a content heart
knowing You are always enough for our every
need.
As the Church we commit to pray and love our
neighbor and nation as You loved us, that our
reputation in this world would be rooted in Your
love.
Holy Spirit work and overflow through us
in every prayer, thought, word, and deed. May
our character, conversations, and conduct
reflect the righteousness in which You clothed
us and command us to live.
With an obedient heart we put on the full armor
of God; Your breastplate of righteousness
guards our heart from which flows the springs of
life.
We pray fervently for our communities and
country; the people who are in the Church,
Family, Education, Business and Workplace,
Military, Government, Arts, Entertainment and
Media.
Every person is Your workmanship,
fearfully and wonderfully created and loved.
With hopeful hearts we pray that all would
choose to receive Your love and follow You.
We pray that America would confess, “Jesus is
Lord” and reflect Your righteousness in every
sphere of influence, and every aspect of our
lives. We ask that heavenly hope would flood
our hearts, silence hate, and that You will heal
our land.
Believing You; all You are, all You said, and all
You have promised, we pray fervently in
righteousness and avail much. In Jesus Name
we pray, Amen!
–Kathy Branzell, President, National Day of Prayer Task Force
Prayer changes things! And it changes us.
Remember, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16).
We choose to trust God, and pray on!
PRAYER RESOURCES by Jackie M. Johnson
Praying with Power When Life Gets Tough
Prayers With Purpose for Women
60-Second Refreshment: Power Prayers for Women
Photo credit: Aaron Burden, Unsplash
No Comments