Prayers for the United States

Prayers naming the United States have followed storms, tornadoes, wildfires and floods across many states, along with elections and political tension, gun violence, and questions of migration and race. Health, mental health and the well-being of ordinary households appear often, as do thanksgivings for its landscapes and wild places.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past: Prayers for Madagascar’s Cyclones and Africa’s Drought (February 26, 2026)

We praise you, O God, for another day to see the dawn, another evening to see the dusk, for the moon and the stars that shine their light at night. We praise you for your great and mighty acts, for your favor to your creatures and your creation. We come to you with our hearts […]

Ashes and Renewal: A Lenten Prayer for Nations at War and for Rev. Jesse Jackson (February 19, 2026)

Heavenly Father, Having just observed the holy day of Ash Wednesday – as we enter the sacred season of Lent – we come before You in humility. The ashes that marked us, remind us we are dust, and to dust we shall return. Strip away our pride, our distractions, and our indifference. Create in us clean hearts, O God, […]

Groanings Too Deep for Words: Winter Storms and a Ferry Sinking in the Philippines (January 29, 2026)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. – Romans 8:26, ESV Everlasting Comforter, Prince of Peace, Today we come to you not knowing how to pray. Our world often […]

And the Floodwaters Covered the Earth: A Prayer for Southern Africa’s Floods (January 22, 2026)

…And the floodwaters covered the earth… (Genesis 7) I thought I knew what I was doing, when I offered to cover for this week’s scheduled prayer writer, whose whole family had come down with the flu. Easy. I had half a week to prepare, nothing much booked for those days. Easy. I didn’t know that an […]

O God of Wonders: Prayers for Greenland, Venezuela, Protesters in Iran, and the World’s Children (January 15, 2026)

O God of Wonders, Grant us opportunities for celebrations of answered prayers this week, places where we see light break through the darkness, hope arise in the face of despair, and peace prevail in areas of conflict. Let joy and gratitude erupt spontaneously from our hearts, as we see you bring deep healing to places […]

Wrapped in the Love of God: Prayers for Aleppo, Aid Workers in Gaza, and Christians in India (January 8, 2026)

Creator and Giver of all Good, You are God Most High – the source of all life, light, and love. You are worthy of our praise and our adoration. We lift our collective voices to declare that you are majestic in holiness, perfect in wisdom, and boundless in mercy. It is of this mercy that […]

A Threshold Prayer for the New Year: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and the Disasters We Carry Into 2026 (January 1, 2026)

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79 God, at the end of […]

Away in a Manger: An Advent Prayer for the Displaced and for Prisoners Freed in Belarus (December 18, 2025)

Away in a manger, No crib for his bed. Advent Jesus, Our hearts break for those who are displaced due to war, violence, oppression, or persecution, who have nowhere to lay their weary heads. Our souls ache for the homeless who are facing winter weather and have no place to stay warm. And our spirits […]

In the Stillness: Prayers After Southern Asia’s Floods and the Hong Kong Tower Fire (December 4, 2025)

“In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair.” -Howard Thurman At least 1,300 people have been killed in floods that have ravaged southern Asia over the past few weeks, with hundreds more still missing and millions […]

Keep Me Traveling: A Thanksgiving Prayer for Immigrants and All Who Speak Truth to Power (November 27, 2025)

The parable of the sheep and goats. ~ Matthew 25 The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what he requires of you. You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God. ~ Micah 6:8 (NIRV) Be thankful […]