12 Ways to Pray for America, Our Home

by Katy Kauffman

Last year my family and I took the back roads around Atlanta on our trek home. Heading north, we avoided I-285 which seems to always have “Christmas traffic” even when it’s not Christmas. Our detour took us through rural country. I love cityscapes, but this time farmland, porch houses, and quaint town centers captured me. I saw beauty and peace.

Not everything in America is at peace though. Communities struggle with crime, families struggle with the economy, and individuals struggle with needs, injustices, and more. How can we pray for the country we love so much? How can we pray for our own family and church?

In Nehemiah Chapters 1-6, one man cared enough about the well-being of his people to get involved and help them. Nehemiah went from being the cupbearer for the king of Persia, the reigning emperor of the time, to rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, a place that had been decimated by a previous empire. Nehemiah prayed and got involved so God’s people would be safe and strong.

In these chapters, we find twelve ways to pray for our own homeland, twelve things that we desperately need in America.

Lord, help our country to be sound and strong, to know You and choose Your ways. Please hear our prayer:

1. Help us to return to You (Nehemiah 1:9), love You (1:5), and keep Your commandments (1:5, 9) which are for our good.
2. Open the right doors for us to rebuild what is broken, and give us the protection and resources we need to do it (2:1-9).
3. Help us to clearly see what needs to be done in our country (2:11-15) and to have the best methods to promote lawfulness, respect, fairness, and helping each other.
4. Give us like-minded people who will also rise and build, and strengthen us for the work (2:18).
5. Silence our spiritual enemy’s voice, dispel his lies, and help us not to give him any place of influence in our lives, communities, and country (2:20).
6. Help us to build side by side, committed to the work (3:1-5).
7. Help us to rebuild at our own doorstep, that our families are sound and strong (3:28-30).
8. Whatever our occupation is, both leaders and people, use us to make a difference (3:1, 8, 9, 12, 16-19, 22, 31-32).
9. Help us to stand guard, so that the progress we make isn’t lost (4:13-14).
10. Show us how to solve problems, relieve oppression, and not put burdens on people ourselves. (5:1-16, 18)
11. Help us to be calm, kind, and self-controlled when we encounter opposition to what’s good and right (6:1-3), and help us to answer any slander with the truth (6:4-9).
12. As we seek the well-being of our country, let it be known that the work we do is accomplished because we have Your help and blessing. (6:15-16)

Which of these ways to pray for our country stands out to you? I love them all, but I am partial to #1, 3, and 10. Tell us in the comments, and may God bless the 250^th-year celebrations this weekend and guide us into a new year filled with light, hope, and possibilities.