The purpose of a National Day of Prayer is to unite people under the banner of faith and peace. Over the past few years we have experienced very little that unites us, but let’s leave those issues behind and join together in prayer.

1) Pray for our nation

Praying for our nation will always stand at the forefront of this list. The very purpose of this day is to gather to pray for our nation. There are many regrettable things about our nation that it’s okay for us to mourn. But maybe that’s where we start our prayer, from a place of mourning.

A common phrase in prayer is Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. As we pray for our nation, let us not start from a position of blame, but from a position of responsibility for our own issues. Pray for the forgiveness of our nation for not seeking God first and conclude by asking God to unite the hearts of many to His will and purpose.

2) Pray with thanksgiving

The theme of this year’s National Day of Prayer is “Exalt the Lord, who has established us.” based on Colossians 2:6-7:

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Allow your prayer to overflow with praise and thanksgiving for the work that God has done in us through Christ. Prayer is a time to thank God for all that He is doing in your life.

3) Pray for our churches

In all of Apostle Paul’s letters to the churches in the New Testament, you find him praying for those local bodies. We need to seek the Lord and ask Him to empower the churches in our cities. The church is not perfect and is filled with people who need God’s power to help them be the hands and feet of Jesus in our nation.

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” | 2 Thessalonians 1:11

4) Pray for our homes

Praying for our nation can sometimes feel like we’re fighting a losing battle. Remember that the greatest way to effect change starts in our homes. Pray that your home would be a place of rest for your family and friends, especially those who don’t know Jesus. A prayer that has been hot on my lips has been for the Lord to protect my kids from evil and from false truth.

Don’t forget that God chooses to use US to help accomplish his purposes.

5) Pray for our world

When you turn on the news or scroll through social media you are flooded with conversations of conflict and images of war. This is the time to pray. Just this week, I prayed with a Ukrainian woman in Louisville, KY. She reminded me that although the war is across the globe, its impact is right here in our neighborhoods and churches.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” | John 14:27

Let us close with this prayer from Pastor Tony Evans:

“God, You are the blessed and only Sovereign. You are the King of kings. You are the Lord of lords. Nations rise up against You, but You rout them as the Lord of hosts over the heavenly army.”

“While we may attribute glory, honor, or power to people, only You rule. Heaven rules the affairs of men. I give You praise, honor, and glory as I recognize that Your hand is the hand that shapes the destinies of all of us, even though we may not realize it in the process. Mankind can make our plans, but the Sovereign determines the path. Amen.”

If you are looking for more ways to spend time in prayer today, please consider visiting the Prayer Wall to leave your own prayer request or to pray for others.

Prayer Wall