As Christians we are required to pray for our leaders and our country. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

This is a general prayer (Part 1) for a single country which outlines areas for future specific prayers and includes personal repenting for our past apathy and/or ignorance of the Lord’s exhortations on Prayers for our Nations. Please add in particular local concerns for your own country as the Spirit leads you.

Heavenly Father,

I come before you with my head bowed low and my hands open. When I read Your Word in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 I recognise that I have failed You and your exhortation. I recognise that I have not diligently and regularly prayed for my country, or for its leaders, or for the government or those in authority over my family and I in this society. I stand ashamed of my failings and I humbly seek your forgiveness. As I look around my country and my society, I recognise that we do not all lead the “tranquil life in all godliness and gravity” as you promised. To the contrary, I see that the enemy has made inroads into _country-name_ and into all sections of our society here.

Lord, I recognise my guilt for standing aside and doing nothing, as the enemy’s decay and rot has changed _country-name_.

I recognise that I have not voted regularly, or each time I was given the opportunity, and when I did vote, I did not seek Your advice regarding for whom I should cast my vote. Instead the enemy has succeeded by default in his plans to thwart Yours, and as a result, not only is _country-name_ in this present state, but as a result, many of Your elect may not been able to come to the knowledge of Your Truth and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal saviours.

I recognise also Lord, that I have not given thanks for all the leaders in place over my life and over _country-name_, nor for all the good things which they may have done. Instead, I have criticised them unreservedly at all times, while failing to participate in their election or rule, or making Your voice and wishes known in any way in _country-name_.

Father, I stand before You ashamed. I humbly ask for your forgiveness and before You, I repent of my errant ways. Embolden me Lord, henceforth to always take each opportunity to cast my vote in this country and to cast it only in favour of the candidate or political party which is pleasing to You. Use me as Your tool, Lord, that You may now start to bring about fundamental changes in _country-name_, especially in the political environment and among those elected officials who represent, rule over and lead all the peoples of this land.

Father, I recognise also that Your Great Commission for us was to “make disciples of all nations” and not to make “disciples of all souls”. I recognise that I have not sought to disciple this nation of _country-name_, even when evangelising. I ask your forgiveness. I come before You Lord to pray and intercede for _country-name_, that you will bless _country-name_ and disciple _country-name_ for Your Kingdom use, that all who live here may come to you in Faith.

Father, You have given Christians Your “Seven Mountains Strategy” for praying for and discipling _country-name_ and for preparing it for the return of Your Son, so that He can take _country-name_ over. I therefore pray for the seven “mountains” of our society here in _country-name_ which need be conquered and claimed by Christians for the downfall of the enemy who presently rule over each of them:

I pray for the MEDIA segment of _country-name_ and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over the Media here.

I pray for the GOVERNMENT of _country-name_ at all levels and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over our Government here.

I pray for the EDUCATION segment of _country-name_ and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over all Education here.

I pray for the ECONOMYsector of _country-name_ and all the areas which comprise it, and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over the Economy here.

I pray for the RELIGION segment of _country-name_ and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over the Religions here.

I pray for the CELEBRATION OF ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT of _country-name_ and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over the Celebration of Arts and Entertainment here.

I pray for the FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES of _country-name_ and I pray against the powers and principalities which rule over the Family and Social Services here.

Lord, please raise up and release into _country-name_ an army of evangelists who are “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”, who, though blending in and lying low, have Your Kingdom agenda written on their hearts. Empower this army Oh Lord, to infiltrate each of the seven mountains of _country-name_, society and prepare them to influence all of the mountains to receive You and Your Truth. I pray that Your army will conquer and hold the lowlands, the midlands and peaks of all the seven mountains of _country-name_ society and pull down the powers and principalities which now rule. Give me a role in this too, please Lord! Let me no longer be a bystander!!

Help your Church also, Oh Lord, to recognise that there is no such thing as “secular work”, but that ALL work by Christians is for and toward the establishment of Your Kingdom! Remind me constantly of this myself Lord, as I humbly repent of shirking my duties for your Kingdom, and not being fully under Your authority in all the parts of my life.

Change and mould me anew for Your Church use, that I will have a new heart for _country-name_ and for raising _country-name_, its leaders and government at all levels in prayer to you constantly, such that all of _country-name_ may be saved. Activate my Faith, Lord, that I may be a new and useful recruit in Your army for conquering the mountains of society in _country-name_, for You.

Father, in closing, I pray that you will raise up a new generation of leaders for _country-name_, through whom it will be to Your Sovereign Glory to have victory, and bring _country-name_ to You.

I pray in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen and Amen.

Now Pray Prayer for our Nation Part 2