Editor's Note This post was published in July 2019 and revised for republication today.
Everybody has their own idea of what's wrong with this country. Most times we put the blame on and pray about, or against, somebody else. The scripture that we like to use most is;
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
If you are a Christian then you are one of the "my people" in this scripture so I submit that if every one of the "my people" will do what it says and first start with humility, meaning they think more of others than they do themselves, and they pray, when God hears and forgives each of them then things will change for this or any other nation.
Everybody has their own idea of what's wrong with this country. Most times we put the blame on and pray about, or against, somebody else. The scripture that we like to use most is;
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
If you are a Christian then you are one of the "my people" in this scripture so I submit that if every one of the "my people" will do what it says and first start with humility, meaning they think more of others than they do themselves, and they pray, when God hears and forgives each of them then things will change for this or any other nation.
8 Things Each Individual Can Pray for to Bring Our Nation Back to God Starting with Ourselves
Lord, help me to strip me of my rebellious spirit.
Rebellion is one of the causes of America's issues. Rebellion makes us question and refuses to submit to the authorities above us (including God). We want God to be at the heart of America, but we don't want to do the hard acts of loving the unlovable, caring for those we don't feel deserve it and tear others down instead of uniting in our common bond of wanting to be more like Jesus. If we can change our heart attitudes from rebellion to submission, God will heal our land.
Pray this:
Lord, strip me of my rebellion. Replace my rebellious heart with one that yields to your way of life in surrender. Amen.
Lord, help me to be humble.
Pray this:
Lord, humble me. Help me to see that I'm not always right and the world doesn't revolve around me. Allow me to do what needs to be done to rid myself of my pride so with a contrite heart I can seek your face. Amen.
Lord, help me to see.
When we go out into our communities do like Jesus did and be aware of the needs of the people in the community. Whether Jesus was driving out demons, healing the sick or admonishing Pharisees, he cared enough about the people in his community because he knew they were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
As his followers, we need to do the same thing. Care for people with our community and beyond so we can pave the way for the gospel to be preached.
Pray this:
Lord, help me to see the issues around me in my community. Help me to be the person who goes out of my way to meet them. Amen.
Lord, help me to love.
It's easy to love people we like, but what about the people who irritate us? It's easy to look down on others who don't see the world the way we do. Yet, God chose to sacrifice his son for everybody, not just ones that were easy to love.
Romans 5:6-8 NLT When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Pray this:
Lord, my heart has hardened. I haven't wanted to love people the way you love them. I've only loved those that think and act the way I do. Help me love people the way you love them. Help me to love enough I'd be willing to lay down my life for them. Amen.
Lord, help me to seek justice.
Micah 6:8 (NLT2) No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
God requires us to act in justice whenever we can. But when blanket sins pervade our world why do we not do what we can to right society's wrongs? To seek justice means to stand up for the poor, downtrodden and misfits of society. The more Christians do good deeds in the name of justice, the more we make the world a better place.
Pray this:
Lord, help me to open my mouth and proclaim your truth. Allow me to live my life in boldness. May my bold proclamations be a sweet sound to your ears. Amen.
Lord, help me not to be silent.
It's interesting in Genesis Satan used silence to perpetuate sin. God told Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But when Eve receives the apple after telling Satan the incorrect information, Adam could have said something. One correction of Adam, to tell the truth, could have changed everything. But his silence contributed to the sin just as much as just eating the apple. In today's world, Christians remain silent not only in the world but also in the church.
Pray this:
Lord, replace my silence with grace and truth. Allow me to use my knowledge of the word to speak the truth in love to others. Amen.
Lord, help me to seek your face.
Psalm 27:8 (NLT2) My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
The Lord wants our fellowship. He wants us to meet with him and to present our requests to him. This verse tells us not only should we want to see his face, but our hearts have to be turned towards him as well.
Pray this:
Lord, let me kneel before your throne and acknowledge you are Lord of my life. Help us all turn our faces away from our own way and turn it to you. Amen.
Lord, help me to lean not on my own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT2) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
The nation's situation may look bleak, but the important thing to remember is God is in control! He holds the world in the palm of His hand-that's how big our God is!
Pray this:
Lord, it looks like you've lost your grip on our world. But I know that you still remain in control. Thank you for reminding me to lean on your understanding and not mine. Amen.
Although you may feel that things are hopeless nothing is beyond the hope of what God can do.
Luke 1:37 NKJV For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 18:26-27 NKJV And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
By each one of us humbling ourselves and stripping ourselves of the pride and rebellion that hardens our hearts, we can take a small step towards the healing our nation needs.
Lord, help me to strip me of my rebellious spirit.
Rebellion is one of the causes of America's issues. Rebellion makes us question and refuses to submit to the authorities above us (including God). We want God to be at the heart of America, but we don't want to do the hard acts of loving the unlovable, caring for those we don't feel deserve it and tear others down instead of uniting in our common bond of wanting to be more like Jesus. If we can change our heart attitudes from rebellion to submission, God will heal our land.
Pray this:
Lord, strip me of my rebellion. Replace my rebellious heart with one that yields to your way of life in surrender. Amen.
Lord, help me to be humble.
Pray this:
Lord, humble me. Help me to see that I'm not always right and the world doesn't revolve around me. Allow me to do what needs to be done to rid myself of my pride so with a contrite heart I can seek your face. Amen.
Lord, help me to see.
When we go out into our communities do like Jesus did and be aware of the needs of the people in the community. Whether Jesus was driving out demons, healing the sick or admonishing Pharisees, he cared enough about the people in his community because he knew they were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
As his followers, we need to do the same thing. Care for people with our community and beyond so we can pave the way for the gospel to be preached.
Pray this:
Lord, help me to see the issues around me in my community. Help me to be the person who goes out of my way to meet them. Amen.
Lord, help me to love.
It's easy to love people we like, but what about the people who irritate us? It's easy to look down on others who don't see the world the way we do. Yet, God chose to sacrifice his son for everybody, not just ones that were easy to love.
Romans 5:6-8 NLT When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Pray this:
Lord, my heart has hardened. I haven't wanted to love people the way you love them. I've only loved those that think and act the way I do. Help me love people the way you love them. Help me to love enough I'd be willing to lay down my life for them. Amen.
Lord, help me to seek justice.
Micah 6:8 (NLT2) No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
God requires us to act in justice whenever we can. But when blanket sins pervade our world why do we not do what we can to right society's wrongs? To seek justice means to stand up for the poor, downtrodden and misfits of society. The more Christians do good deeds in the name of justice, the more we make the world a better place.
Pray this:
Lord, help me to open my mouth and proclaim your truth. Allow me to live my life in boldness. May my bold proclamations be a sweet sound to your ears. Amen.
Lord, help me not to be silent.
It's interesting in Genesis Satan used silence to perpetuate sin. God told Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But when Eve receives the apple after telling Satan the incorrect information, Adam could have said something. One correction of Adam, to tell the truth, could have changed everything. But his silence contributed to the sin just as much as just eating the apple. In today's world, Christians remain silent not only in the world but also in the church.
Pray this:
Lord, replace my silence with grace and truth. Allow me to use my knowledge of the word to speak the truth in love to others. Amen.
Lord, help me to seek your face.
Psalm 27:8 (NLT2) My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
The Lord wants our fellowship. He wants us to meet with him and to present our requests to him. This verse tells us not only should we want to see his face, but our hearts have to be turned towards him as well.
Pray this:
Lord, let me kneel before your throne and acknowledge you are Lord of my life. Help us all turn our faces away from our own way and turn it to you. Amen.
Lord, help me to lean not on my own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT2) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
The nation's situation may look bleak, but the important thing to remember is God is in control! He holds the world in the palm of His hand-that's how big our God is!
Pray this:
Lord, it looks like you've lost your grip on our world. But I know that you still remain in control. Thank you for reminding me to lean on your understanding and not mine. Amen.
Although you may feel that things are hopeless nothing is beyond the hope of what God can do.
Luke 1:37 NKJV For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 18:26-27 NKJV And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
By each one of us humbling ourselves and stripping ourselves of the pride and rebellion that hardens our hearts, we can take a small step towards the healing our nation needs.
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