President Washington’s Prayer

This is a challenging season for our nation and for the world. Entire nations are reeling from leaders who will not seek Almighty God. The laws of a land reflect the morals and priorities of that country’s leaders – and often the strongest voices. As Israel of old, we risk the judgment of God because we “call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter… justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him” (Isaiah 5:20, 23)! Far too often, the voices of God’s people fall silent as the voices of evil intensify. Not only do God’s people largely fail to speak to our nation about God, but we often fail to speak to God about our nation. 

We are sharing this lesser-known prayer of the great leader, President George Washington, as a reminder of the need for Christians to intercede for their nation. Nations around the world are desperate to solve pressing issues, yet, many have neglected to seek the wisdom of God. There are no social, moral, economic, or political solutions to a spiritual crisis. The hope of a nation is in what God can do. Every country needs God’s people to speak for God to their fellow citizens and to God for their nation.

Allow Washington’s prayer to stir you:

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul.

Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit, from the dross of my natural corruption, that I may with more freedom of mind and liberty of will serve thee, the everlasting God, in righteousness and holiness this day, and all the days of my life.

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments. Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy Son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred, unite us all in praising and glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.