Read Genesis 18:16-33.

When Abraham interceded for the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah, it was a persuasive prayer. It was persuasive not because Abraham tried to remind God about how good he had been. He did not recall to Him how he had faithfully tithed a tenth of all he had had to Melchizedek or how he had left all his family and country behind to follow God. Abraham did not try to persuade God based on how he had trusted Him in the past or on any other of his merits. He did not inject himself into the picture or even ask anything for himself.

Rather, Abraham pleaded with God on the basis of God’s character, on the basis of His glory. He brought his requests before God because of his zeal for the honor of God. In the same way, our prayer for America must not be on the basis of anything other than the promises of God that we have in Jesus Christ. I am convinced that God wants to hear our prayers for an awakening in America—not for us but for His glory.

Abraham anchored his prayer firmly in who God is, and God was more than delighted to answer his prayer. It may not have been exactly as Abraham wanted it answered, but God responded to Abraham’s intercession. Abraham had not asked, “God, will You save Sodom and Gomorrah at any cost?” No, that was not the prayer. Abraham was burdened for the name of God: “Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Likewise, we must root our prayers firmly in who God is—the Holy One, the God who saves.  

For the sake of our children’s children, for the sake of the continuity of the preaching of the Gospel, let’s intercede for America. Pray for the lost to repent and be saved. Pray for those who turned their back on the Truth to repent. Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit to bring us a spirit of repentance.

Remember: God blessed Laban because of Jacob. He blessed Potiphar’s house because of Joseph. He rescued the people from the shipwreck because of Paul, and if God is going to save America, it is because of faithful people across the land who are praying for America. So let us pray.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You listen to Your people when we pray to You. You are full of mercy and abounding in love. Your patience for the wayward is astounding. Today I pray that You would draw this nation back to You. May the lost find hope and eternal life through Christ. May Your people seek the flourishing of our nation for the blessing of mankind, who are all made in Your likeness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” (Psalm 86:5).

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