By Melissa McLaughlin
My foot pressed steady on the brake. While waiting at the light, my eyes scanned the traffic. Lawn signs and billboards crowded the street like fans at a holiday parade. Election ads echoed between songs on the radio. The tension hovered in the air like a dense fog.
For those of us living in the United States, the election is upon us. A reminder that we are a divided people.
As Christians, we know our true citizenship is in heaven, so we trust God, come what may. However, the Bible teaches us to pray for our earthly leaders. And so, we pray. We look to the Lord to light our way.
Whether you live in the U.S. or in another country, I invite you to pray for your nation, as God directs.
What should we pray? Let us pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Please join me praying God’s will for our nation.
Heavenly Father,
We praise your holy name. For you are God and there is no other. You are the Creator and you are high above all. Thank you for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins, lifting us from shame to grace. Jesus, we praise you for your resurrection power. Thank you for your indwelling Spirit to fill and guide us.
Almighty God, we ask for your mercy and grace in our time of need. We look to you, Father God. You are our Provider. We place our trust in you.
Lord, we pray for our nation. As followers of Christ, we are your people. We are called by your name. Father, forgive us for our sins. Individually, as parents, as families, as a church, and as a nation. We confess, we have not loved you, trusted you, or sought you with our whole hearts. We allowed culture to become more important than Scripture.
We humble ourselves and repent for all the ways we compromised and have placed other things or people before you. Please forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Father, help us turn from our sins, seek your face, and walk closely with you.
Lord, we forgive those who have hurt us. Holy Spirit, heal and wash away any bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts.
Most High God, we ask your supernatural intervention in our country. We know you are in control. Please set up and remove leaders according to your plans and purposes. We pray for leaders who will rule righteously, in alignment with your Word. We cry out for evil to be exposed, truth to be embraced, justice to be upheld, and mercy to be extended.
Holy Spirit, send revival. Heart to heart and home to home. Sweep like a wildfire through this nation. Strengthen believers and bring unbelievers into your fold. Open blind eyes, inflame our hearts, and stir our minds that we may see Jesus in all His glory.
Let us run to Jesus, the Light of the world. Let His love shine through us like a city on a hill. Give us boldness to share the gospel.
Holy Spirit, you are the great Comforter. We ask you to comfort our people. Surround us with angel armies to protect us from evil. Blanket this land with your peace that passes all understanding.
No matter who is president, Jesus Christ is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! Let your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus, you are the Prince of peace. May your peace rule and reign in our hearts. Begin in my heart, Jesus.
Help me gaze through this shadowy world to our heavenly home glowing in the distance. We rest in your Sovereign goodness, King Jesus, for yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Forever.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Below are some Scriptures that help me pray God’s will for our nation.
What helps you pray for our nation?
2 Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV) – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) – Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Other posts you may enjoy:
God Calls Us to Pray for Our Leaders
How to Pray According to God’s Will
Dear Melissa, thank you for these precious thoughts and your prayer. One thing I have added to my prayers today is that the 40 million Christians who seem not to think their votes count, would be moved to see which direction this nation is going if certain people are ruling our country and vote the issues that most fit for the future. I had thought I would not vote because neither person is capable in their own reputations to rule God’s people, some to the detriment of the church and families. But I was reminded by one of our church leaders that the Lord uses means — which in the case of elections — our voices speaking through the ballot box for the issues that most please our Lord. Blessings.
Dear Fran, thank you for sharing your thoughts and prayers here. I appreciate your honesty and heart in this matter. I have recently heard similar statistics about Christians who are not voting because they do not feel either candidate can govern righteously. I appreciate the point your church leader made. As it turns out, in my personal Bible reading, I have been reading in 2 Kings. It is filled with leaders who did not follow the Lord. Yet, the Lord worked through them, and in some cases, helped them and protected them from their enemies. Truly, without God’s grace, He could not use any of us. God can work through anyone to accomplish His plans, even a donkey. He is Sovereign, but He chooses to work through us, His people. Which one will bring more protection for your neighbor and your neighbor’s children, and bring more peace that the gospel may go forth? May Christians discern which candidate promotes biblical values that are more pleasing to the Lord. And do the small part we are privileged to do. God bless you, Fran. May the Lord surround you with His peace.
Amen to this Fran. Our all-powerful sovereign God has historically worked through people (godly and ungodly) to achieve His purposes. My addition to my sister Melissa’s beautiful prayer is that the Holy Spirit will move on the hearts of millions of Believers to not only pray, but to make their voices be heard when we are asked (a vote is simply an answer to the question we are asked: do you choose this or that?). And as citizens of this country may we allow our choice to count when we stand with policies that more closely align with God’s laws and heart.
Amen, Sandra. I appreciate you reading and sharing your thoughts and insights. This is such a clear explanation of voting. May we pray and vote to uphold those policies that more closely align with God’s heart. May God lead us to be salt and light for Christ!
God blessed you
Thank you for this beautiful prayer message this evening Melissa.
May God restore our nation to once again be pleasing to Him.
May our leaders humble themselves under the almighty hand of God so that God will rule and reign in every decision they make.
And may LOVE be restored in this nation.
GOD is LOVE!
And, most of all, please send revival in the hearts of mankind that we might fulfill the purpose You have ordained for each of us. We are just sheep, O Lord. We need a Shepherd. We are lost without You.
I pray this In the precious name of Jesus.
Thank you for your heartfelt prayer, Mary Anne! I am joining you and praying each word along with you! Reading and rereading and praying. Amen and amen to every word you wrote and prayed! Jesus, our Great Shepherd, truly we are lost without You. Have mercy on our nation and raise up a leader who will humble themselves before you and lead according to your ways and your Word. Let the love of Christ be shed abroad! In His precious name.
Thank you so much!
Praying for our nation.
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, Audre, for joining me in prayer!
Praying and praying for our nation.
God bless you always, sister.
AMEN SISTER in JESUS!!
God bless you, Kristi! Thank you for praying!
Thank you. This was an excellent post urging us to pray for the election and this nation. God bless you, dear Melissa.
God bless you, dear Claudia! All glory to God! Thank you for joining me in prayer.
I stand and agree with you, believing for God’s will be done in all nations, in Jesus mighty name, amen🙏
God bless you Sister in Jesus name🙏🤗
Thank you, Edmee, for standing with me and agreeing in prayer for God’s will to be done in all nations, in Jesus’ mighty name.
May His kingdom come, may His good will be done. God bless you!
Amen. We are called to worship God, not people. God’s will be done.
Amen, Melissa. May we pray for our earthly leaders and the country God has placed us in, but may we keep our eyes on Jesus!
We continue in prayer for our nation.May many many souls turn to the Lord Jesus.
Come quickly, Lord
Amen, Tom. May we remain fervent and steadfast in prayer for our nation. May this be a time of great revival so many receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus, come quickly.
Amen and amen. I have no fears about what will happen, for I know my future is held in the hands of the Lord God Almighty. He has a plan, and no one will stop it.
Amen Jessica! So well spoken! All our hope and trust is in Jesus Christ!
Amen and amen. Well said dear sister Melissa. Praying for all our leaders.
Amen, Yvonne! We pray God’s will for all our leaders. May His peace, salvation, and blessings flow across our nation!
Beautiful, Melissa. So thankful our citizenship is in heaven and we are part of a greater nation–God’s nation! May we pray for our world, country, and leaders.
Amen, Karen! May we pray for God’s love, truth, and gospel message in the nation where He has placed – as we keep our eyes on heaven, where our true citizenship rests. Glory to God! We always have hope!
I’m reading this post-election and I so appreciate your prayer, Melissa. It is something we need to pray even throughout the year, whether elections are imminent or not. Yours is a well-founded prayer – founded in Scripture – and it focuses on the big picture and, of course, the gospel. And I especially appreciate your humility and plea in light of our own personal prayers. Thank you for this.
Stephen, thank you for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. Even post-election. I may revise the message because this should always be our prayer for our nation and leaders, whether we are in an election season or not. May God help us always keep the big picture as we pray for ourselves, our families, our nation, and our world. God bless you and yours!
Lovely post, Melissa. Now more than ever, we must turn our hearts to the Lord. God bless!
Thank you for reading and sharing your feedback, Nancy. You are right. We must turn our hearts back to the Lord. He is our only hope. God bless!
I’m standing with you in faith for a great spiritual awakening. The political realm is not where the hope for America lies!
Amen, Pastor Ed! Thank you for reading and praying with me for spiritual revival in this nation. Jesus Christ is the One we need! Thank you, Pastor Ed, for your faithful teaching and preaching according to Scripture. Your Spirit-filled, Christ-centered messages help to anchor my faith. God bless you and use to expand His kingdom!