How to Pray for Our Nation in Times of Change

This is a fascinating week in American life. I’m writing this while sitting at my kitchen table in the morning when it seems Donald Trump has potentially become the 47th president of the United States.

The presidential race wasn’t the only big-ticket item this year; there were many critical issues on ballots nationwide. Today, there are victories I am celebrating and losses I am not pleased with. It’s all part of the democratic process.

Many people have asked me how to pray in the face of such a profound moment. Regardless of the outcome of these elections, every believer’s primary call is to seek first the Kingdom and Will of God, and the primary way we do that is through prayer.

So, where do we start? However you voted in this election, how do you now pray for this country?

This Week’s Focus: How to Pray for Your Country

There are many great prayers in scripture, the most obvious being the Lord’s Prayer, so I want to give you a very simple form to pray today. This isn’t a magic formula; it’s simply a process by which you can pray for your country and find rest in your heart.

HOW TO PRAY:

1) Recognize God’s Authority.

It is vital that our prayers begin with recognizing Yahweh's sovereign authority. This is the foundation of our prayer because it roots everything in the reality of his lordship over all the universe. Before we present any request to God, we should first recognize who he is. Doing this will make you feel secure in the remainder of your prayer.

Matthew 6:9 (ESV) - Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

2) Ask For His Will To Be Done.

Prayer isn’t meant to align God’s will with ours, but rather our will with God’s. The thoughts and ways of the Lord are perfect, and when we pray, we are asking for that holy and perfect will to be manifest in the broken world in the same way that it is constantly and perfectly operating in the heavenly realm. When we pray for God’s will to be done, we submit our pride and begin to build our faith by trusting in his goodness.

Matthew 6:10 (ESV) Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

3) Ask for Evil to Perish and Goodness to Reign.

God is totally good and abhors all evil. When we bring our requests to God, we can begin by asking him to intervene in our nation's situations. There are evil plots in this nation, and there are those who seek to do good. Pray that God would foil the plans of evil and make way for the plans of the righteous.

See: Psalm 37, Psalm 109

Amos 5:14 (ESV) Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.

4) Petition for Peace and Unity.

The enemy loves to divide, especially amongst those who profess to know Christ. Jesus also promises us that the world will be divided against believers. So, what do we pray? We pray for unity - first, in the body of believers called the church; second, among the nation's citizens in which we dwell; and finally, in the government itself. Jesus is the prince of peace, and his peace is available for those who would turn to him. Pray that this nation would turn to Jesus and find his peace.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

5) Submit Your Heart and All Emotions to God

This election cycle has stirred up an incredible amount of emotions. Many elements of media and social media work to stir up all kinds of emotions within our nation, and unfortunately, that work will continue for quite some time. 

What do we do with the anxiety, concern, uncertainty, and even anger that has risen up? It must all be submitted to God. Emotions are like children in a car; they shouldn’t be put in the driver's seat or stuffed in the trunk. They have a proper place, and so do emotions and feelings. That proper place is laid at the feet of Jesus. Submit all of your heart to Christ and watch how he gives your spirit rest.

6) Trust in Jesus as the Amen

End every prayer by recognizing and thanking Jesus for being the true amen. What does that mean? It means that all the promises of God have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled through Jesus Christ.

We can trust that God is working on all things according to His perfect plan and that the love of Christ is constantly being poured out to us. This final step of the prayer is where our faith is truly tested with this question: “Can we offer prayer for our nation and leave all of our worries at the feet of Jesus, arising to walk through our day trusting in his goodness?”

End the prayer by simply saying: Jesus, I choose to trust you today.

Share the Peace:

If you found this practice helpful, why not share it with a friend or family member who could use a little peace right now? Just forward them this email and invite them to join us on this journey. They can subscribe here: growgreaterfaith.com.

Blessings,

Joshua Weisbrod

Grow Greater Faith