National Day of Prayer
2026 National Day of Prayer
Today, May 7, is the National Day of Prayer with believers across the United States setting aside this day to pray together for America. We invite you to pray the prayers below (adapted from the National Day of Prayer Committee). We also invite you to join in prayer at noon at the Salvation Army (50 E King St, York, PA 17401) or at 7PM at Upper Room Missionary Church (1401 Williams Rd, York, PA 17402).
A Guide to Pray Today
Almighty God, King of Glory, we confess our sins and repent of our pride that
sought our own glory and comfort, allowing evil to take root instead of Your
fruit in our hearts, homes, culture, and country.
Please forgive us.
Now, with this declaration of rededication, we humble ourselves, pray, and seek Your face, turning from our wicked ways, that You would heal our lives and our land.
Please purify and renew our hearts with holy attributes, affections, attitudes, and actions-to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
We give You glory as we repent and rededicate our lives and our nation to You. Throughout history, you have been faithful, guiding people with your wisdom, grace, mercy, and love. We have witnessed that same faithfulness in America’s 250-year history.
We praise and thank You for our Founding Fathers and Mothers, and for all who went before us, that sought You in fervent prayer throughout history and answered Your call to defend justice and freedom; to protect and serve, preach and teach, innovate, communicate, learn, work, worship, and establish just and equitable laws.
May Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done in our lives, our Families, the Church, Education, Business, Military, Government, Arts, Entertainment and Media as it is in heaven.
We prayerfully commit to "Glorify God Among the Nations, Seeking Him in All Generations."
In Jesus' name, Amen!
Praying For Leaders and Elected Officials in Government
Scripture calls believers to pray for those in authority, regardless of political party or allegiance.
Government functions to provide a framework for an organized society, while our devotion and compass for what is true and good are rooted in the unchanging truths of God laid out in Scripture.
WHY to pray
In the days Jesus spent on earth, there was tension within the local Jewish leaders concerning the overlying occupation by the Roman government. History records several uprisings and rebellions against the Romans during the same time period, however, Jesus’ teachings primarily revolved around the Kingdom of God. The book of Mark records the now famous words that Jesus uttered “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, render unto God what is God’s” to show that government has a use, but it is not our savior and cannot compete with our allegiance to Christ Jesus.
In our country, our government has many different sectors that perform many different tasks. Local government influences the buildings and schools that populate communities. State government influences the operation of businesses and the roadways to get to them. Federal government influences the relationships with other nations for international commerce and military aide for our allies.
The ‘forest’ of government is full of ‘trees’ that are the individually elected and appointed officials who are tasked with representing the interests of their constituents and seeking wise counsel to make decisions to lead our country forward. The spheres of government leaders need our prayers!
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the places God reveals how we should interact and participate in government. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s purpose for Government:
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. - 1 Peter 2:16-17 ESV
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. – 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NASB
When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures. – Proverbs 28:2 HCSB
WHAT to pray
Provide leaders with wise and godly counselors who will provide honest wisdom and encouragement
Well up humility in the hearts of leaders to make apologies or adjustments when these things are necessary
Lord, pour out a spirit of cooperation between elected leaders
Break down the barriers that are built up by selfish ambition for personal power
Safeguard the marriages and families of elected leaders who spend large portions of time away from home
God, give leaders clarity to know what issues are most important to dedicate their time toward
Soften the hearts of leaders to hear and understand the needs of the communities they serve
Bring a spirit of harmony and righteousness among the staff members who work to support each elected leader
Protect leaders from falling into temptations of bribes, unfaithfulness or straying from what is right. Lord, protect them from the plots of evil to stand for what You have established
Praying for Our Armed Services
At their best, those who serve in the military are displaying the sacrificial love that Jesus described: 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
As believers, we follow a Savior who laid down his life for all humanity and called us to deny ourselves and carry our cross.
WHY to pray
Within scripture we see the positive and negative influence of the military through history. We see the Israelite army defending against invading armies and we see Babylonian and Persian empire armies devastating the nation of Israel and Judah. Our Savior Jesus died on an execution stake used by the Roman army/government to punish rebels. But on the cross it was a military leader, the Roman Centurion who oversaw Jesus' execution, that recognized Jesus as the Son of God. So we see that God can work through the complicated reality of militaries.
Historically, the United States military also has a complicated history from defending nations against tyranny to engaging in acts of injustice. The military itself is composed of thousands of volunteers from all walks of life who submit themselves to fulfill the needs of our country, whether that is across the world or state lines. The armed services can provide a sense of purpose and structure, as well as opportunities in growing career fields. However, many of those who serve endure stresses that increase the likelihood of substance abuse, post traumatic stress disorder, fractured home life, homelessness, and other life-altering challenges.
The military needs our prayers.
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for wisdom on God’s design for each person to rely on the Lord and His provision. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see how we can pray for members of our military:
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 ESV
We wait for Yahweh; He is our help and shield. For our hearts rejoice in Him because we trust in His holy name. – Psalm 33:20-21 NIV
Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 HCSB
WHAT to pray
pray for the leaders to make wise and righteous decisions based on Biblical principles rather than personal career gains
Lord, help all military personnel see You working in their daily lives, that You are with them, whether they are in the field, at home, or abroad
Remove stigmas for seeking medical attention for mental and physical needs
God, hold the families of service members close, and may they look to You for the strength and peace that only You can give
Comfort the spouses and children who are separated due to military jobs—keep these marriages and families strong
Lord, keep the hearts of the military from being desensitized to violence, while keeping them strengthened through battles. Only You can provide such a balance.
Move service members to seek the Lord and family for comfort, rather than overuse of substances
Praying for Families In Our Nation
God established families at the foundation of the world, creating Eve from Adam’s bone, and growing children from their union.
Later in scripture, we see the formation of tribes along kinship lines. Family sets the foundation for understanding our experiences and the world around us.
WHY to Pray
Scripture even records God using the term ‘father’ to help our finite human minds begin to understand the relational nature of our omnipotent and all-powerful God. (Exodus 4:22)
The family is the first place we learn about God and create expectations for how to form relationships. Healthy families provide a strong foundation for children to grow into mature adults and model the love of Christ by sacrificially serving one another.
When the foundation of family is shaken through tragedy, trauma or broken trust, the foundation for life is shaken right along with it. Divorces, work/life imbalance and lack of loving support can profoundly shape the rest of a person’s life, even if the painful event occurred decades prior. Christ shared in the sufferings of family troubles while He walked on Earth: the leaders of Nazareth rejected Him as the Son of God, refusing to see Him as more than “Joseph’s son.”
There are timeless challenges such as joining lives as a married couple and raising children, and there are the new challenges of navigating family dynamics in an age of the social media barrage of opinions and connections.
Families need our prayers!
HOW to Pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the divine design for families and wisdom on cultivating a healthy family life. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s design and purpose for families:
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. -Exodus 20:12 NIV
Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. -Proverbs 19:20 HCSB
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 HCSB
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 NLT
WHAT to Pray
Grant us humility, and with that humility bring stability and peace to families
Wisdom and grace in choosing a spouse; to be equally yoked together in faith
For those who live as singles to find meaningful ways to connect with families
Give husbands and wives the grace to consider each other before self
Endurance for single parents or grandparents stepping in as parents
Grace for children and parents in the foster system and for families who serve as resource families
Comfort for families moving forward through grief
Strengthen families who also serve as caretakers for medically fragile family members
Give empty-nest parents comfort in transition and the vision to grasp their new role as full-time intercessors for adult kids
Harmony in blended families
Create a means of escape and healing from harmful family dynamics
Praying for the Body of Christ
Jesus established the church to continue the work He had begun on Earth.
Christ’s ministry established a lifestyle of caring for needs, praying in relationship with the Father, and sharing the Gospel message of salvation.
WHY to pray
The Church unites all believers in the proclamation of faith in Christ Jesus. There are many denominations and practices, but one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Ephesians 4:5-6)
A healthy church is a powerful tool God uses to bring people into salvation and a community that continues to spurn one another on in the faith. We need to cover our churches in prayer, because there are many distractions that can prevent a church from living in the fullness of God’s design. Is a church too focused on perceived image and a single leader, or on making Christ known above all? Is a church ignoring issues, or addressing challenges with humble hearts seeking Biblical healing and justice? Are the church members actively living out a missional lifestyle and engaging in intergenerational discipleship or is church just a weekly event?
The church needs our prayers!
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the divine design and wisdom concerning challenges within the Church. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s design and purpose for the Church:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5 ESV
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3 NIV
WHAT to pray
God, use Your Church as a beacon of light and joy to a world that is searching for answers
Jesus, give your pastors keen wisdom and insight that is in tune with your Spirit so they would never lose sight of the mission of Your Church
Lord, open hearts in the church to care for people outside the church, to be praying for them and to become visibly and tangibly concerned and helping them in needs and struggles
Bring a focus for exalting You above all else, to pastors, church staff, volunteers and lay leaders
Stir the Holy Spirit among the body to actively participate in discipling one another in Scripture
Father, burden the Church with urgency to share the Gospel with passion and the power of the Spirit
Remind us to eagerly look for ways to use our time, talents, and treasures to build up the Body of Christ
Praying For The Education of Young People
God established families at the foundation of the world, creating Eve from Adam’s bone, and growing children from their union.
Education is not just about memorizing a series of facts—it is growing in knowledge about the world, learning beneficial interactions with others and applying these things to live in the calling of Christ.
WHY to pray
Education is an investment into the future, and a unifying connecting point for each person. The Apostle Paul used this universal fact to convey the spiritual truth of ‘growing up’ in Christ-like wisdom and letting go of childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
There are endless avenues for young people to receive an education: public school, private school, homeschool, and formats that mix elements of each. Not to mention the many opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Parents and caretakers need wisdom from the Lord to make the right choice for their children to receive education that aligns with the truth of Scripture and helps them fulfill the plans the Lord has for them. Students need to know they were created by God with value and that their Creator has a purpose for them. Instructors need endurance to faithfully teach pupils in God-honoring lessons.
The sphere of education needs our prayers!
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the divine design and wisdom about children growing in knowledge and wisdom. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s design and purpose for the sphere of education:
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6 NIV
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. -Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV
And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea. -Matthew 18:5-6 NASB
WHAT to pray
Father, Stir the hearts of parents to take an active role in the academic, spiritual, and emotional formation of their children
God, guide school boards to be wise in choosing curriculums that uphold the truth about the world
Move the hearts of funding leaders to prioritize the needs teachers and students have for classroom materials
Give Christian parents a missionary mindset to minister to teachers in their children’s lives
Lord, draw near to teachers in the classroom and teach them to rely on the Holy Spirit throughout the day rather than their own strength
Set young people free from the hopelessness, despair, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and substance abuse
Bless teachers with an outpouring of grace and endurance of such magnitude it overflows onto their students, their schools, and their communities
Turn the hearts of students to see their worth and value in their Creator and Savior, rather than test scores, athletic performance or social media following
Pour out discernment on older students and their parents to know what path You have for them transitioning into adulthood
Praying for Arts, Entertainment, and Media
God demonstrated the ultimate creativity when He created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is within it.
The creatives who make up the arts, entertainment and media sphere need our prayers to honor the God-given creative gifts and steward them to bless our culture.
WHY to pray
As people populated the Earth, God poured creative talents into people for different works that would benefit them and glorify the Lord. Today, people with these creative gifts make up the Arts, Entertainment, and Media spheres. The average American consumes an astounding amount of media each day: entertainment television, digital games, social media, news, and music. These influences shape the things we think about, the words we say, and the way we see others and treat them. It takes prayer to discern what media influences will keep the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts acceptable and pleasing to God. (Psalm 19:14)
The people who make tv shows, report the news, and perform in shows need our prayers. They are filled with God-given talents and abilities and need the Lord to guide them in using their gifts to glorify Him. Some need to experience salvation, while others need a faith community to surround them with support. Thousands of Christians who work in arts and entertainment are fighting to infuse wholesome and uplifting content in our culture while Christians in the media sphere work hard to honor the God of Truth through truthful news reporting.
Arts, Entertainment and Media needs our prayers!
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the heart of the Creator who is the source of all creativity and who knows what our hearts and minds need in the entertainment we consume. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s design and purpose for Arts, Entertainment and Media:
“He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs.” – Exodus 35:35
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” -Philippians 4:8 ESV
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 NASB
WHAT to pray
Lord, encourage the believers who are called to use their creative gifts to glorify You and cultivate a culture of concern for one another
Teach us to use the news as prayer prompts and ideas for how to serve our local community
Pour out wisdom for people who bring funding to entertainment media to fund things that are wholesome and speak the truth of God
Send creativity for artists to create thought-provoking works of art and entertainment that point towards Your redemptive plan for humanity
Fill the hearts of artists who fill stadiums with adoring fans but still feel alone—You are the only one who can make them whole
Guide news professionals to seek truth and gather evidence, to present the issues of the day clearly
Strengthen the Christians in these spheres to boldly stand for Biblical truth in the writer’s rooms, board meetings and creative processes
Praying For Businesses and the Workplace
Since the beginning of time, divisions of labor and trade of goods and services has been a consistent occupation for people across every era and time period.
A workplace is anywhere work is performed—both within and outside the home. We see in Scripture that Moses was a government leader, Deborah was a judge, Paul was a tentmaker and Mary and Martha were homemakers.
WHY to pray:
Each of these heroes of the faith boldly followed the call of the Lord even in their different positions. There is not exclusive job title necessary to be used by God. It is a JOY, not a JOB, to be obedient to God to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, love our neighbor as ourselves, and go into all the world and make disciples. (Matthew 22:37 and Matthew 28:19-20)
Each person is created in the image of God and holds inherent dignity, and as His creator God calls each person to work as if working as a representative of Christ. Therefore, both our place of work and our heart’s position at work need to reflect our dignity and obedience to God. A God-honoring business can be a great benefit to employees and the community, and a person who honors God in each task through the day speaks a testimony of faith. We need to cover our workplaces in prayer to see hearts changed for the Kingdom of God!
HOW to pray
Pray the Father’s heart. To do this, seek scripture for the divine design and wisdom concerning righteous ways to conduct business and honor God while working. Meditating on scripture before beginning prayer puts our hearts into a position of submission to the will of God. These verses are good starting places to see God’s design and purpose for righteous working practices:
Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. -Colossians 3:17 NASB
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
-Psalm 112:5 ESV
Give her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates. -Proverbs 31:31 HCSB
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? -Luke 16:10-11 NIV
WHAT to pray
May each business leader be of great character: of integrity, humbleness of spirit and heart, honest in speech and actions, empathetic and vulnerable.
Lord, raise up a workforce that is filled with a spirit of excellence and unity in all they do
Dispel any false belief that a person’s value comes from a job title—let the truth ring out that a person is valuable because they are image bearers of You, their Creator
Pour out a spirit of generosity onto the sphere of business
May the gifts of the work of their hands be a great blessing to each family and community
Father, open the hearts of business leaders to be soul-searching, to cast out any greed, selfish ambition and idols and lay them on the altar of repentance
Give shift leaders hearts genuinely concerned with the overall wellbeing of their workers