Prayer Points for our Nation

Regardless of your political stance, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, our job today is clear… Pray for our cities and leadership. But if you’re feeling stunned by recent events and feel lost in how to pray, here are some of the prayer points from last nights’ prayer call with Intercessors for America.

Start with repentance.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17

Father, we ask forgiveness and repent for the bloodshed, hatred, and violence in our nation. We repent for the polarization and lack of unity. We repent for the death of countless unborn, paid for by our state’s tax dollars. We repent for legislatures that have been passed that dishonor our citizens and your heart. We repent on behalf of state legislature that’s been placing curses on our land from death and destruction. We come before you humbly and in surrender. We thank you for your promise that if your people repent, you will hear our prayers and heal our land.

Thank and Praise God for who He is.

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Isaiah 59:19

We will not allow the threats of the enemy to rob us of our praise! We praise you God that you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We praise you for your ways that honor and protect your people. We praise you that you step in for justice when others don’t (Isaiah 59). We praise you that your heart is to bring life and peace to your people. We praise you that you love unconditionally. We praise you that you are enthroned in heaven, and that the nations are your footstool (Isaiah 66:1). You are Mighty to Save, Healer, Jehovah Jireh Provider, Yahweh Breath of Life, and Jehovah Nissi the Lord our Banner. And your banner over us is love. We praise you that when the enemy comes in like a flood, you lift up a standard against him. Thank you Lord!

Pray for Jerusalem.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Psalm 122

Lord God, we lift up Jerusalem to you. We pray for Israel and ask for a dome of peace and protection over them. Like a mighty roaring lion, protect your beloved people. Give leaders wisdom from heaven. Give them all the support they need. Bless and protect this precious land and people. Forgive us Lord. I heard of a holocaust survivor recently being burned at a peaceful support of Israel meeting in Colorado. So much hate and suffering against them. Forgive us Lord. Forgive us and bring healing and life and liberty. May Israel see peace and prosperity. In Jesus’ name.

Pray for the welfare of your city.

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 

Jeremiah 29:7

Father, we seek the welfare of our cities now by praying for them. Lord, pour out peace and prosperity and unity in our streets. And guide us by your Spirit as we pray and intercede.

Pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:1-4

We pray for our leaders… for those in governering authority, for law enforcement, the national guard, the military, the police force, governors, mayors… you put them into places of leadership and authority to guard and protect our cities. We pray for the peace of our cities.

We thank you for those on the front lines. Give them divine strategies, wisdom, peace over them and their families. Pour out your Spirit and cover them in the blood of Jesus and the armor of God. Send your Spirit ahead of them. Sheild them from harm. Let the fire of your Spirit burn away every evil attack and every darkness against them. Protect these men and women who serve our nation. Let your power go before them. Fill them with courage, strength, humility, and peace.

Bind the darkness.

In the mighty name of Jesus, you have given us all authority and we use that today today to protect our cities. In the mighty name of Jesus, we break off every negative word and curse spoken over our nation and its leaders. In Jesus’ name, we cancel every evil assignment against our nation’s people, leaders, businesses, and streets. We declare that no weapon formed against us will prosper. We bind spirits of fear, chaos, deception, witchcraft, murder, rebellion, death, and hate in Jesus name.

Speak blessing.

And in the mighty name of Jesus, we speak blessing over our city squares and public places, big cities and small towns, for both the US and Israel. We release God’s healing, unity, protection, peace, calmness, and love over our land. We declare Shalom over this nation and over Israel. We ask you Lord to release your angels to guard and protect your people.

We speak light into darkness. Beauty from ashes. We declare peace instead of chaos. We declare revival rains will pour forth from storm clouds of riots. We ask for the mighty move of God to spare our people and bring love and peace to this land.

Have mercy.

Father, we love you and praise you and we thank you for all you are doing that we cannot even see. All the ways you’ve protected that we cannot even fathom. Thank you for hearing our prayers that have gone before us. Thank you for the peace and protection. Thank you that when two or more gather in unity in your Name, you delight to hear and answer. Thank you that you long to show mercy.

We cry out for mercy over our nation. We love you and bless your name.

In Jesus name,

amen

Here’s a parting thought and Scripture. It’s a passage I leaned on often when I was dealing with some heavy things. But it’s never felt more applicable than today.

Isaiah 59

We all growl like bears;

we moan mournfully like doves.

We look for justice, but find none;

for deliverance, but it is far away.

12For our offenses are many in your sight,

and our sins testify against us.

Our offenses are ever with us,

and we acknowledge our iniquities:

13rebellion and treachery against the Lord,

turning our backs on our God,

inciting revolt and oppression,

uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

14So justice is driven back,

and righteousness stands at a distance;

truth has stumbled in the streets,

honesty cannot enter.

15Truth is nowhere to be found,

and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased

that there was no justice.

16He saw that there was no one,

he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;

so his own arm achieved salvation for him,

and his own righteousness sustained him.

17He put on righteousness as his breastplate,

and the helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on the garments of vengeance

and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

18According to what they have done,

so will he repay

wrath to his enemies

and retribution to his foes;

he will repay the islands their due.

19From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord,

and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.

For he will come like a pent-up flood

that the breath of the Lord drives along.

20“The Redeemer will come to Zion,

to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”

declares the Lord.

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.