How Jesus Followers Must Pray
for Our Nation at This Crisis Point
for Our Nation at This Crisis Point
A Prayer from 1710 Meant for America in 2024
At our most recent BREAKTHROUGH! Zoom Rapid Prayer Gathering, many strong prayers were offered for the spiritual renovation of America. Among them was one read by an Anglican pastor. It came from a book published in 1710, composed by one of the most influential Christian leaders of that time, Matthew Henry.
When Matthew Henry offered this prayer, the United Kingdom then, like the United States today, was bitterly divided along many lines: rich and poor, urban and rural, Whig and Tory parties, multiple ethnicities and languages, and Catholic, Protestant, and Non-conformist Christians.
Thankfully, a few years later, God answered prayers like Henry’s by unfolding what historians call the “First Great Awakening” on both sides of the Atlantic.
At the BREAKTHROUGH! event, we all instantly sensed that this prayer points us in the direction that every Jesus follower must pray for our nation in its current existential crisis.
Now, here it is—so you can pray it along with us!
Also, be sure to sign up for our next rapid response BREAKTHROUGH! prayer gathering, happening soon. Do so HERE today to automatically receive the Zoom link the day before the next one.
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A Prayer for Our Country and People
Matthew Henry, 1710
Our heavenly Father, how gracious you have been in giving us an abundant land where we could live and work and flourish—a free country where we could worship you and serve your people.
In your lovingkindness, you have set over us a government that ought to rule in justice, oppose wickedness, and promote the good and welfare of the people so that peace and order would thrive.
We are a sinful and rebellious people! We deserve nothing but your just condemnation.
But we humbly ask you, Lord of heaven and earth, for the sake of your Son and for the sake of your people in this land, to grant us government leaders who are God-fearing, hard-working, and selfless.
Give us, we pray, public servants who understand their calling as coming from you and who will use their ofice to advance the good of the people and not their personal or political agenda.
Thus, we plead that you, merciful God, will deliver our nation from sin, corruption, injustice, oppression, and even from rulers and public servants who take advantage of their position and office in order to promote themselves and their own welfare and to perpetrate their corrupt practices.
Set us free from all kinds of evil by giving us public officials who will be a terror to all who do evil and will praise and protect those who do what is right.
By the power of your Holy Spirit, enable us as a nation to turn away from and hate our sins. Move us to turn our eyes from ourselves to you who are our only hope and comfort in this valley of uncertainty and sorrow.
We pray these things so that
the kingdom of God and the lordship of Christ among us
will be even more apparent as an unbroken dynasty
that lasts forever
through the establishment and maintenance of
his Church and kingdom.
the kingdom of God and the lordship of Christ among us
will be even more apparent as an unbroken dynasty
that lasts forever
through the establishment and maintenance of
his Church and kingdom.
And so, we pray that you would let your sovereignty that governs all nations bring blessings to our people.
For the sake of our Lord and Savior, the Prince of Peace—
and for the glory of your name, hear us, we pray. Amen.
and for the glory of your name, hear us, we pray. Amen.
About the Author
Over the past 50 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ Awakening movements. Download his widely read ebooks at ChristNow.com. Enjoy hundreds of podcast episodes. Watch his weekly vlogs at David Bryant REPORTS. Meet with David through Zoom or in-person events through David Bryant LIVE!
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