It Starts Here: National Day of Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

MESSAGE

Today isn’t about performance.

It’s not about polished prayers or perfect words.

It’s not about doing something religious.

Because religion tends to keep God at arm’s length. It checks the box and says, “That should be good enough.”

But prayer — real prayer — is something deeper.

It’s not cold ritual; it’s a relationship.

It’s children coming to their Father.

It’s the humble turning toward the only One who can truly heal, restore, and lead us.

Truth

God says, “If My people… will humble themselves and pray and seek My face…”

Notice what He doesn’t say.

He doesn’t say, “If the world gets it together…”

He says, “If My people…”

That’s us.

It doesn’t start with Capitol Hill — it starts with the heart.

Restoration begins one home, one prayer, one step at a time.

So today, we want to pray in that order — from the inside out.

From our families, to our communities, to our country, to our world.

And we do so not out of obligation… but because we know the One we’re praying to is full of mercy, near to the brokenhearted, and still changing lives.

CLOSING PRAYER

Let’s pray together.

Father,

We come not to impress You — but to be with You.

We don’t bring fancy words. We bring open hearts.

We start with our families.

Lord, help us build our homes not on appearance or activity, but on You.

Where there is tension, bring peace.

Where there is exhaustion, bring rest.

Let grace and forgiveness flow freely — and let our children see that faith is not a Sunday thing, but an everyday walk with a living Savior.

We lift up our communities.

God, we ask for healing where there’s division… hope where there’s despair…

And courage for those who serve: our teachers, our leaders, our pastors, our neighbors.

Help us be people who show up, speak kindly, and act justly — wherever You’ve placed us.

We pray for our country.

Not just for better laws, but for changed hearts.

Lead our leaders with wisdom, yes — but also with humility.

Remind us that righteousness exalts a nation, and that revival starts when Your people kneel.

And we lift up the world.

So many places are hurting — from war zones to refugee camps, from persecuted churches to forgotten villages.

We ask that Your gospel would go forth with power.

Raise up servants. Open hearts. Let Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

And Lord, let it begin in us. We don’t pray because we’re religious.

We pray because we’re Yours.

In the name of Jesus — our Savior, our Shepherd, our Hope —

Amen.