The United States of America has one of the world’s largest populations, the world’s largest economy, and incomparable freedom of speech. This gives the US the opportunity to have influence and impact globally.
Given this influence, praying for America both generally and specifically is an important part of praying for the world.
If you have a burden for praying for America, or are wondering how to pray for America, we have more information on the best ways to pray for the United States.
Whether you are an American or not, these prayer requests can be helpful in your prayers for America.
We also have tools to help you pray faithfully and specifically for the United States with a free downloadable prayer points for America guide. The prayer guide is great for personal or ministry use, whether you are praying on your own, or praying at a small group, Bible study, or prayer service.
Whether it’s the National Day of Prayer, Independence Day (the 4th of July), or any other day of the year, praying for America is well worth the time.
Why Do We Need to Pray for America?
You might wonder why we need to pray for America. Many people consider Americans privileged, with great freedom and abundant resources.
Individually, it is easy to be complacent and to be convinced of your own strength and worth. If something happens, you count on yourself to take care of it. Given enough resources, you might not even see your need for God.
As a country, America can fall prey to the same temptation to rely on itself and not look to God. The United States has had a long history of people turning to God in difficult times, and thanking Him for His blessings.
However, recent years have highlighted a nation struggling to keep its heart turned towards God.
Praying for Americans to see their need for God, to be transformed by God’s Word and not conformed to this world, is an important prayer request.
Through America, God has provided for many missionaries, for humanitarian aid that demonstrate love and compassion, and for projects that encourage and care for Christians around the world.
God’s purposes will be accomplished no matter what, but Americans will miss out on being part of His plan if they no longer have a heart for Him or His work.
Christians, both inside and outside of the United States, can be part of lifting up the country in prayer.
How to Pray for America: 10 Prayer Points for America
These 10 prayer points for America are a good way to pray for America. They cover a variety of prayer requests for America, though it is not an exhaustive list.
Each prayer point is detailed with more aspects of that prayer request, then is followed by an example prayer for that prayer point. You can follow along with the prayer or use it to inspire your own prayer about that point.
The free printable prayer guide to pray for America is available. We’ve included a link after this section. It’s a condensed version of the prayer points in order to keep it simple to print for a prayer notebook or a prayer event.
Here are 10 ways to pray for America.
To Embrace God’s Word
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
If each person of a nation would embrace the Bible and sincerely believe what it says, and believe in the Lord, the nation would be transformed.
Pray that Americans would read the Word of God and cherish it, letting it change their lives.
Heavenly Father,
We are thankful for Your Word. What a gift to us! We can learn from it, be encouraged by it, and get to know You better.
We pray for America, that it would love Your Word. May Your Word reach everywhere in America. May people who have not encountered You find it. May people who have set it aside rediscover it. May Christians spend time reading or listening to Your Word today.
May Your Word equip Americans to know You and serve You each day.
In the Holy Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
For Godly Character
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Many other countries perceive the United States as a Christian country, While it is the religion with which most Americans identify, the people who identify as a Christian and the rate of attendance of services is on the decline. Less than half of the people who identify as Christian attend church monthly.
While church attendance is only one metric, it is an indication that the culture in America is shifting away from Christian values.
Praying that God would strengthen American Christians to be a loving example of Him, displaying the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their lives, is a great way to pray for godly character for Christians in America.
Dear God,
It is our heart to see You reflected in the lives of Christians. We pray for the Christians in America, that they will live by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We pray that they would show Your love, joy, peace, and patience to others. May their kindness, faith, and goodness be evident to all. And may they be strengthened in their gentleness and self-control.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
For God’s Guidance
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
Isn’t God wonderful? He desires a relationship with us, and lets us get to know Him better through prayer and His Word.
Our wise and all-knowing God should be our first step when we are seeking guidance for any situation or decision. He wants us to seek Him for His guidance toward His will.
Let’s be praying for America, that they would seek God’s guidance each day, for decisions of any size, both on a personal level and the local and national government level.
Almighty God,
We thank You that Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our paths.
We pray that America would seek after You, that each person would read Your Word and listen to You in prayer, as they go about their day.
We ask that You would help the government leaders in America to seek after You. Turn their hearts toward godly principles and toward Your will, even if they don’t know You personally. May they see Your power at work.
We pray that You will be honored in America.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
To Repent of Sins
Psalm 66:18
“If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened.” Psalm 66:18
What God has done for us is staggering, especially when we look at salvation. Sin separates us from God, but Jesus’ sacrifice for us made it possible for us to be redeemed for eternity and no longer separated from God.
Yet sin still can separate us from walking closely from God. Even if our eternal self is saved, we can still experience separation from fellowship with God by elevating our cherished sin above our relationship with Him.
We can pray personally over this in our own lives. And we can also pray this for a country. Praying that America would not cherish sin in its heart, but instead ask for God’s help in repentance, is a great way to pray for America.
Dear Lord,
We thank You so much for Your salvation, that You offer us redemption when we turn to You. We repent of the sin in our lives, that we might stay in close fellowship with You.
We pray the same for America. May You show Americans where they might be embracing evil ways. May they seek Your help to overcome these struggles with sin.
May Americans glorify Your Name!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To be Humble and Fear the Lord
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 WEBBE
A seemingly helpful trend today can actually end up being harmful. Encouraging and empowering others is great. But when it comes at the cost of exalting oneself above God, either accidentally or on purpose, it is sinful.
Pray for Americans, both personally and in the corporate sense, that they will not glorify themselves, but be a humble people, and have a fear of the Lord.
Dear Lord,
We love You and want to glorify You! May this always be a priority for us. Help us to see ourselves as You see us. May we not honor anyone above You.
We pray for America, that it would walk humbly with You. May Americans act justly and love mercy as well. (Micah 6:8)
Please help Americans to fear You, giving You reverence and respect in their lives.
In the holy name of Jesus, Amen.
For God’s Intervention and Protection
Job 12:23-24
“He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.” Job 12:23-24
Over and over again in the Bible, we see God’s people defeat kingdoms who seemed undefeatable. It underlines God’s sovereignty and illustrates that He will use all these events for His own purposes.
Praying for God’s intervention and protection over the United States, especially where Americans are working to honor and serve the Lord, is a great prayer request for America.
Dear God,
You are the Lord of all, our sovereign God! We are grateful for Your protection and provision each day
We pray for America, that You would protect it from those who would harm it. May You thwart anything that would endanger national security. Give America’s government and military wisdom as they navigate these intense situations.
We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
To Trust in the Lord
Psalm 20:7
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7 WEBBE
Someone who is struggling is more likely to see their need for God than someone who feels secure in their own strengths and resources.
This principle means that some Americans are prone to look to their own “horses” and “chariots” than to God for guidance and provision.
This prayer point focuses on praying for America to trust in the Lord.
O Lord,
We come to You, confessing our need for You each day. We want to be steadfast in our trust in You.
We pray the same for America, and for all Americans. May they see their need for You and trust in You! May America look to You for wisdom, provision, guidance, and strength.
We ask these things in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
For the Church to Grow in America and Worldwide
Acts 2:47
“Praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
In the New Testament, we saw God grow and spread His church in different ways. He still grows His church and spreads the reach of the Gospel today.
Every Bible-believing church is important, no matter where it is. Some might wonder why the American church even needs prayer, especially with the freedom to worship. Many nations in the world do not have this privilege.
The American church needs prayer to be faithful. It needs to be faithful to God and His Word. It needs to stay true to spreading the Gospel, both in the community and around the world.
Pray that the Lord would encourage the American church, especially as it serves His kingdom in America and around the world.
Dear Lord God,
Thank You for Your church! We are encouraged by fellowship with other believers.
We pray for the church in America, that You would help it stay faithful and true to You. May the churches thrive as they serve You. Please keep false doctrine out of the churches. May You add to the number of believers each day!
We also pray that You would help Americans and the American church be faithful in supporting missionaries and ministries around the world.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
For the Youth of the Nation
Psalm 119:9
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9
There seems to be a trend of disparaging the younger generations. Rather than trying to appreciate the differences, older generations can dismiss the younger people and lament the future.
While there may be legitimate concerns with the younger generations, there always have been – nothing new here!
Instead of complaining, the best way to support generations younger than us is to listen to them and build into them. Take the time to get to know the younger and more compassionate generations, who are facing a more complicated world today than the generations before them.
As we look to edify these younger generations, let’s form a welcoming and accessible environment where they can learn God’s Word and be encouraged in it.
Praying this for America will shape the America of the future.
Dear Father,
We thank You for the younger generations. They are people created in Your image. They face many challenges in navigating today’s world.
We pray for the youth in America, that they would see their need for You. Help the ministries in the local church and beyond that reach these children, tweens, and teens. May the youth know Your Word and love it.
We ask that You would encourage the young people of America, that they would grow in their love for You.
We ask these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
For Vulnerable Populations
Psalm 82:3
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” Psalm 82:3
Though America works in advocating for the welfare of people and for human rights around the world, it does not mean that all Americans enjoy the plentiful life that people might picture.
Some students struggle to eat enough during the summer when not provided the lunch and sometimes breakfast that the school provides during the academic year.
Other people struggle with injustice, seeing their interests rejected for their perceived worth to society.
Still others deal with the effects of crime around them, not having a safe place to live, or go to school or work.
Over and over in God’s Word, He says to look out for these vulnerable populations. He loves each person and tells Christians to be an advocate for them, showing the godly character He wants of us.
Please be in prayer for the vulnerable populations in America.
Dear God,
As Christians, what is important to You is important to us. And we know that You want us to look out for the orphans, the widows, the oppressed, and many others who are vulnerable.
We pray for Americans, that they would align their hearts with Your heart, that they might show Your mighty love to these people.
Help each person to do what You have given them to do in this area. Thank You for Your provision!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Free Printable: Prayer Points for America Guide
The 10 Prayer Points for Praying for America are summarized on a free printable Prayer Points for America guide.
Download it here.
You may also want to visit this article on our sister site, Hope Filled Faith. It includes two free printables, 31 ways to pray for America and another option of Prayer Points for America.
Any amount of time spent in prayer is wonderful. Praying specifically for prayer needs is a great experience, as you see that God answers prayers. He also can use it to change your heart about what you are praying for.
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These prayer points can help you pray for America, especially if you aren’t sure where to start.
Praying for America isn’t just for Americans, nor is it just for special days, like the National Day of Prayer in America (traditionally the first Thursday in May), or Independence Day (the 4th of July).
Consider adding America to your prayer list, as well as other countries around the world. If you are looking for a book to pray through, Operation World can be helpful, though it hasn’t been updated since 2010. Prayercast is another option, offering prayer plans and videos for praying through the world.
May God bless you as you meet Him in prayer!
If you liked reading this, you may also like Prayer for Church Leaders and Prayer for Church Musicians.