I find the most effective way to pray for the United States of America is to pray the Word. I take the verses, in this case Psalms 51 and apply them to those I am petitioning for.

In this case where you see [_____] I insert:

“We the People of the United States, one person, one family, one congregation at a time”

The blue words are adjustments I made to the original text.

This pattern of prayer can be used for any nation or people group.

Psalm 51 New Living Translation (NLT)
¹ Have mercy on [_____], O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
² Wash us clean from my guilt.
Purify us from my sin.
³ Make us recognize our rebellion;
May it haunt us day and night as Your cups of conviction fall upon us. Until we willingly admit that
⁴ Against you, and you alone, have we sinned;
We have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
⁵ Although we were born sinners — the Blood of Christ redeemed us and You brought forth a Christian Republic for your glory

⁶ You desire honesty from our inner man so You can
teach us wisdom even there.

⁷ Purify [_____] from our sins, and we will be clean;
wash us in the Blood of the Lamb of God, and we will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Oh, give us back our joy again;
you have broken us with righteous chastisement —
now let us rejoice.
⁹ Don’t keep looking at our sins.
Remove the stain of our guilt.
¹⁰ Create in [_____] a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right and loyal spirit within us.
¹¹ Do not banish this nation from before your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit’s protection from us.

¹² Restore to [_____] the joy of your salvation,
and make us joyfully willing to obey you.
¹³ Then we will teach your ways to those who are in rebellion against you,
and they will return to you.
¹⁴ Forgive us for shedding blood of the babies who have been aborted and those who are being killed as our leaders look away, O God who saves;
then we will joyfully sing of your forgiveness as we come to know the greatness of Your mercy.
¹⁵ Unseal our lips, O Lord,
that with our mouths we may praise you.

¹⁶ You do not desire a sacrifice or another church program, or we would offer one.

¹⁷ The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit filled with godly sorrow.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
¹⁸ Look with favor on [_____] and help us;
restore Your Christian Republic for Your glory. Amen.

Again, this pattern of prayer can be used for any nation or people group.
 

~ Mary B. Dovie
“In God We Trust”

Mary B. Dovie is an ordained minister of the Gospel under the covering of Joy Christian Church and Gideon Christian Fellowship in New Orleans, Louisiana. She operates under a prophetic and teaching anointing. Mary is married to her high school sweetheart, Paul; they live in Theodore, Alabama. Their family includes son Anthony, who serves in the US Army, as well as their son Matthew, his wife, Jennifer, and daughters, Amelia and Stella.