Since 1988, every first Thursday in May has been designated as a National Day of Prayer, but our call to pray for America didn’t start in the twentieth century. Before the Declaration of Independence, the first Continental Congress sent out a call for a national day of prayer in 1775. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called for a similar day in 1863.
In 1952, Congress established the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, which President Harry S Truman signed into law. President Ronald Reagan made the first Thursday in May as the annual National Day of Prayer in 1988, a practice that continues to today.
This year, on May 2, Christians across America will pray for our nation’s present and future. In the Bible, God calls on his children to pray for their nation and its leaders. Here are eight prayers to say on the National Day of Prayer.
Prayer #1: A General Prayer for Our Nation
Christ, in his example in The Lord’s Prayer, gives us instruction on how to pray for our country in Matthew 6:9-10: “Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (ESV).
Lord, please be kind to our nation as a whole as we struggle collectively and individually with sin. Bless your people in our country, help us to strive for you in all that we do. Let us remember you create nations and you allow them to be destroyed. Let us not rest on any past goodness but pray for revival to happen in the hearts of people across this nation. Amen.
Prayer # 2: A Specific Prayer for America
Throughout the Bible, we’re reminded of how God, in his sovereignty, brings nations into favor and allows them to fall. Psalm 33:10-11 says, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations” (ESV).
Dear Jesus, we are so blessed to enjoy the freedom to worship as we see fit in America. Let us not take our religious liberties for granted but work to ensure all can worship freely, even those who do not serve you. Please let our hearts be guided by your most Holy Word as we exercise our rights to vote and serve others. Amen.
Prayer #3: A Specific Prayer for the Executive Branch
While God has allowed earthly rulers, he is the supreme Ruler over all of his creation. As Psalm 47:7-9 reminds us, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!” (ESV).
Heavenly Father, please be with our president and vice president. Whether we agree with the man or woman in that office, we pray they would seek you and that their decisions would benefit all Americans. Let them be those who seek justice for the innocence, succor for the poor and liberty for all. Amen.
Prayer #4: A Specific Prayer for the Legislative Branch
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he reminds him about the importance of praying for our leaders. For example, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, he writes: “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” (ESV).
Lord, we pray for our legislators, as they have an often difficult task of crafting laws and overseeing budgets. May they put their constituents first and their own desires second. May they seek the good of all over the good of a few. May they be honest in all of their dealings. Amen.
Prayer #5: A Specific Prayer for the Judicial Branch
God is a God of justice—he cares deeply for wrongdoings to be corrected and those who commit crimes to be justly punished. 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 tell us: “He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, ‘Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes’” (ESV).
Dear Jesus, please give us judges who are not corrupt but who love the law. Let them deal fairly with all who come before them. May our judicial system favor the innocent and rightly punish the guilty. Let all who come to court be heard and their case rightly judged. Amen.
Prayer #6: A Specific Prayer for Your State and Local Leaders
Our daily lives are often impacted more by our state and local leaders than by our congressional representations. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:13-14, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (ESV).
Dear God, help our state and local leaders to be righteous in all that they do. Let them seek to create laws and rules that benefit all who live within their jurisdiction. May they desire to serve, rather than be served, to help rather than to take, and to give rather than receive. Amen.
Prayer #7: A Specific Prayer for the Election
Each year, many American have the chance to vote in local, state and national elections. As Deuteronomy 1:13 reminds us, “Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads” (ESV).
Our Heavenly Father, let us remember you are sovereign over all even as we prayerfully consider who should represent us. Let us be kind to those with whom we disagree politically. Let us seek your Scriptures for guidance. Let us always look to Jesus as our Savior and not earthly men and women, keeping in mind that your kingdom will come one day with Christ as our glorious leader. Amen.
Prayer #8: A Specific Prayer for God’s Sovereignty
No matter the outcome of an election or what our government does or doesn’t do, God is still sovereign over all. Romans 8:28 puts it in a familiar way: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (ESV).
Dear Jesus, let us not become overwrought about the good or the bad happening in our nation. Help us to view events and circumstances through the lens of Scripture, recalling Christ’s admonition that we would encounter hardships and trials, tribulations and setbacks, but that through it all, God still reigns upon his throne. Remind our hearts that everything is for our ultimate good and for the glory of our Savior. Keep us attuned to your Word and hold fast to the promises within its pages. Let us praise the One who is sovereign over us, rejoicing in our King who is not of this earth but of a heavenly realm. Amen.
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Sarah Hamaker is a national speaker and award-winning author who loves writing romantic suspense books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s also a wife, mother of two teenagers and two college students, a therapeutic foster mom, and podcaster (The Romantic Side of Suspense podcast). She coaches writers, speakers and parents with an encouraging and commonsense approach. Visit her online at sarahhamakerfiction.com.