Prayer for the Nation

Yesterday, on July Fourth, this prayer was prayed for our nation by Van Syverson, an elder in our church:

O Lord Almighty, God of heaven and earth, the great and awesome God, the One who keeps His covenant of love with those who love and trust Him, let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear our prayers on behalf of our great nation.
Father, we pray for our President knowing that his heart is in your hand. We pray that you would surround him with men & women of integrity, who will place Your agenda and the good of this nation above their own. Likewise, dear Lord, we pray for Congress that by Your Power, this body would pass laws that are just. We pray for the Supreme Court that as they make decisions, their decrees would be Your decrees. Indeed, dear Lord, we would pray for all those in authority, whether national, state or local, that again, righteousness and justice would prevail.
O Lord, as we consider the prophet Joel’s description of the invasion of locusts, we can only think of our country today. Economically, many have lost homes, jobs, assets, the ability to make a living. Poverty has increased greatly. Banks and businesses have failed; greed dominates the corporate scene. We are politically corrupt, morally depraved, spiritually bankrupt.
Father, as a nation we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked & have rebelled; we have turned away from you and your Holy Word. We have pursued that which is right in our own eyes. We are covered with shame because of our unfaithfulness to you!
Further Lord, I pray on behalf of that great sleeping giant, the Church in America. Forgive us for the lethargy, the divisions, the strife, and the failure to accept and uphold all Scripture as the inspired Word of God.
Father, we are comforted by Your revelation to Joel that if we return to you with all our hearts, with fasting, weeping and mourning, you will be gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. You have promised that if we, your people who are called by Your name will humble ourselves, pray and seek Your face, You will hear, You will forgive, and You will heal.
Lord, I pray that the Church will awake to righteousness and holiness. I pray that the Church would unify under the blood-stained banner of the Cross and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom clearly and boldly. I pray that you would send a sweeping revival resulting in a great multitude coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I pray that the revival of the saints would be so all-encompassing that it will affect the spiritual complexion of our entire nation, influence our politics, our economy, our media and our society.
Jesus said in Matthew 7 that “if we ask, it will be given to us; seek & we shall find; knock and it will be opened to us.”
Oh Father, may Your Name be glorified and Your will and purpose be accomplished. For all this we pray in the powerful name of your Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.