Today on Rooted we are praying for our country and for ourselves. We pray to relieve our anxieties about the future; we pray because it reminds us how much God cares for us; we pray because our heavenly Father holds all power in His mighty and loving hands.
Check out the youth ministry side of the blog today to find prayers for the President and the President-elect.
Father, help us during this anxious time to be still and know that You are God. You will be honored by every nation. You will be honored throughout the world. Remind us that You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Keep us steadfast, Father, Help us to trust in You. (Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 26:3)
May we say, as individuals and as a nation: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. For our hearts shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.” (Psalm 33:20-22)
You, and You alone, Lord, control the course of world events. You remove kings and set up other kings. Praise be to Your name for ever and ever; Wisdom and power are Yours. You change times and seasons; You depose kings and raise up others. You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. You reveal deep and hidden things; You know what lies in the darkness, and Light dwells with You. We thank and praise You, God… (Daniel 2:20-23)
Oh God, You bring death and You bring life,
You bring down to the grave and raise us up.
You bring poverty and You bring wealth;
You lower, You also lift up.
You put poor people on their feet again;
You rekindle burned-out lives with fresh hope,
Restoring dignity and respect to their lives- a place in the sun!
For the very structures of earth are Yours
You have laid out Your operations on a firm foundation.
You protectively care for Your faithful friends, step by step,
But leave the wicked to stumble in the dark.
Your enemies will be blasted out of the sky,
Crashed in a heap and burned.
You will set things right all over the earth,
You’ll give strength to Your King,
You’ll set Your anointed on top of the world! (1 Samuel 2:7-10 MSG)
Father, we pray that there will peace in our country in the days to come, that You will calm angry and anxious men and women. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which You have established. The authorities that exist have been established by You. Whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what You have instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves… the ones in authority, from the President all the way down to the policemen and women, are Your servants for our good. May any protest or dissension be calm, reasonable, and orderly, conducted with respect for each other as human beings bearing Your image in the world. (Romans 13:1-2, 4)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Jesus is KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)
From Kate Bowler (@katecbowler):
O God, we are anxious as we stand at the edge
Of so much opportunity, so much danger.
God, calm our fears, protect us,
And all that is true and just and good.
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.
God you stilled the roaring of the seas
The pounding of their waves,
And the tumult of the nations.
Psalm 65:7
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Spirit have mercy.
Blessed are we to turn to You and pray
O God, bless our lands, and through this whole election
Inspire honesty in every intention, decency in every action, integrity in every decision, and the healing of every division.
Grant us grace to respect others and listen patiently
In a way that restores the possibility of change
And creative compromise.
Blessed are we who ask that you establish stability and peace
Through leaders who will work for us for the good of us all,
Who will seek reconciliation,
And unite our country in a way forward together
To shelter those who are vulnerable, hurting and afraid.
God have mercy.
Christ have mercy,
Spirit have mercy.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
Further resources:
TGC hosts a blog on their website that consists entirely of prayers written by the gentle, humble Scotty Smith. Healing for Our World, Nation and Selves is his most recent offering.
